Metro East Sun

The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has announced the opening of the application period for the Small Equipment Grant Program. The OSFM will allocate $4 million to eligible fire departments and ambulance services for purchasing small firefighting and ambulance equipment. Interested departments must submit their applications electronically or postmarked by October 1, 2024.

“Our First Responders deserve to have access to the equipment they need to do their jobs and keep our communities safe, and I encourage all eligible departments to apply before the October deadline,” said State Rep. Charlie Meier.

“My goal as Illinois State Fire Marshal is to help enhance programs such as our Small Equipment Grant Program to provide as much funding as possible for departments/districts across the state. We hear the need daily, and departments shouldn’t have to decide between putting fuel in their trucks or providing the needed equipment for their members to protect their communities safely and effectively,” stated Illinois State Fire Marshal James A. Rivera.

The Small Equipment Grant Program was established to provide grants of up to $26,000 to eligible departments. In April, a total of $4 million was awarded to 168 fire departments/districts and EMS providers across Illinois during the last grant cycle.

This program addresses long-standing difficulties faced by fire departments and not-for-profit ambulance services in Illinois, particularly those struggling with revenue generation for small equipment. The grants enable eligible applicants to purchase small tools and equipment that might otherwise be unaffordable. For this application cycle, applicants can also request personal infection control items such as masks, gowns, and gloves in addition to firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE). Most Illinois fire departments, fire protection districts, township fire departments, and stand-alone not-for-profit ambulance service providers are eligible.

Applicants must have participated in the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) for at least two years prior to applying. Departments must be current from October 2022 through September 2024 and report all incidents responded to, including ambulance calls.

Additional information and applications can be found at:

https://sfm.illinois.gov/iam/firedepartment/grants-and-loans.html

Completed applications should be submitted to:

Office of the State Fire Marshal

Small Equipment Grant Program

1035 Stevenson Drive

Springfield, IL 62703