IDNR awards grants to 73 volunteer fire departments across Illinois

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has awarded $495,000 in federal grants to 73 volunteer fire departments across the state to help with purchasing new equipment or paying for fire training.

The Volunteer Fire Capacity (VFC) grant program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The program provides matching funds to aid fire departments in the purchase of new equipment and helps fund training. Funding is passed through IDNR to local fire departments and fire training academies.

The 73 grantees provide fire protection to about 250,000 Illinois residents, primarily in rural areas of Illinois.

"IDNR is pleased to support fire protection districts that are necessary to protecting lives and property in some of the most underserved areas of Illinois," said IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. "These grants will fund critical equipment and training resources for rural communities throughout the state."

The VFC grant program (formerly the Volunteer Fire Assistance program) reimburses 50% of the recipients' project costs up to $10,000. Grant recipients must make the initial financial outlay for the projects before being reimbursed.

In 2025, the program awarded $322,893 for 48 Illinois projects. The types of projects that have been funded under previous grants include radios, hoses, self-contained breathing apparatus, turn-out gear, wildland personal protective equipment, hand tools, chainsaws, backpack blowers, modifying federal excess vehicles and equipment, and other equipment.

"Volunteer firefighters and rural fire protection districts are essential to keeping our communities safe," said State Senator Chris Balkema (R-Channahon). "In many small towns and rural areas, these departments are made up of neighbors who step up to serve and protect others, often with limited resources. These grants will help provide critical equipment and support so first responders can continue doing their jobs safely and effectively. I'm grateful to see these investments coming back to the communities of the 53rd District."

"No matter what Illinois community our residents call home, their safety matters, and they deserve access to reliable emergency fire services," said State Senator Napoleon Harris III (D-Harvey). "These grants will help fire departments buy the equipment and resources they need to keep residents safe."

Volunteer Fire Capacity grant recipients by county

Bond County

Greenville Fire Protection District, $8,060

Mulberry Grove Fire Protection District, $10,000

Bureau County

Bureau Fire Protection District, $4,723.50

Cass County

Ashland Fire Protection District, $8,805.05

Champaign County

Broadlands-Longview Fire Protection District, $9,577

St. Joseph-Stanton Fire Protection District, $9,559

Tolono Fire Protection District, $9,660

Christian County

Midland Fire Protection District, $9,595.50

Clay County

North Clay Fire Protection District, $10,000

Clinton County

Germantown Rural Fire Protection District, $6,924.50

Huey Ferrin Boulder Fire Protection District, $4,173.95

Coles County

Lincoln Fire Protection District, $8,861

Cook County

Sauk Village Fire Department, $1,531.77

Douglas County

Tuscola Fire Department, $10,000

Effingham County

Montrose Fire Protection District, $4,568

Teutopolis Fire Protection District, $5,367.50

Tri-County Fire Protection District, $9,958

Watson Fire Protection District, $4,908

Franklin County

Sesser Fire Protection District, $5,000

Fulton County

Farmington Fire Protection District, $2,936.97

Lewistown Fire Protection District, $10,000

Greene County

White Hall Fire Protection District, $10,000

Grundy County

Gardner Fire Protection District, $9,204.28

Hamilton County

McLeansboro Fire Department, $10,000

Iroquois County

Cissna Park Fire Protection District, $10,000

Woodland Fire Protection District, $5,459.19

Jefferson County

Jefferson Fire Protection District, $4,785

Johnson County

Goreville Fire Department, $10,000

Kankakee County

Grant Park Fire Department, $10,000

Manteno Community Fire Protection District, $7,416.70

Kendall County

Newark Fire Protection District, $4,991.50

LaSalle County

Grand Ridge Volunteer Fire Department, $5,500

Leonore Volunteer Fire Department, $4,972

Peru Fire Department, $2,486.92

Utica Community Fire Protection District, $8,500

Livingston County

Emington-Campus Fire Protection District, $5,000

Madison County

Long Lake Volunteer Fire Department, $7,320

Marion County

Salem Fire Protection District, $6,918.50

Mason County

Easton Rural Fire Protection District, $10,000

McDonough County

Good Hope-Sciota Fire Protection District, $5,780.54

Industry Fire Protection District, $4,999

McLean County

Bellflower Fire Protection District, $10,000

Hudson Fire Protection District, $9,766.87

Mount Hope-Funks Grove Fire Protection District, $3,425

Monroe County

Maeystown Rural Fire Protection District, $5,182.96

Valmeyer Fire Protection District, $4,450

Montgomery County

Coffeen Fire Protection District, $10,000

Hillsboro Fire Department, $9,385

Witt Volunteer Fire Department, $4,789.14

Morgan County

Waverly Fire Protection District, $6,096.22

Moultrie County

Sullivan Fire Protection District, $5,342.40

Piatt County

Mid-Piatt Fire Protection District, $10,000

Monticello Fire and Rescue Department, $6,193.50

Pike County

Griggsville Fire Department, $6,850

Hul Kinderhook Fire Protection District, $7,662.50

Pope County

Rural Pope County Fire Protection District, $9,928.38

Rock Island County

Carbon Cliff-Barstow Fire Protection District, $2,533.57

Saline County

Galatia Volunteer Fire Department, $3,369.48

Sangamon County

Divernon Fire Protection District, $3,944

Pleasant Plains Rural Fire Protection District, $4,072.48

Scott County

Winchester Volunteer Fire Department, $9,899.01

Shelby County

Oconee Fire Department, $7,000

Tazewell County

Creve Coeur Fire Department, $3,860.78

Union County

Alto Pass Volunteer Fire Department, $1,931.96

Warren County

Central Warren County Fire Protection District, $5,000

Little York Fire Protection District, $4,315

Washington County

Ashley Fire Protection District, $2,150

Wayne County

Fairfield Rural Fire Protection District, $9,480.50

White County

Norris City Fire Protection District, $4,205.60

Will County

Braidwood Fire Protection District, $2,464.98

Crete Township Fire Protection District, $4,082.21

Williamson County

Lake Egypt Fire Protection District, $9,999.63

Winnebago County

Win-Bur-Sew Fire Protection District, $10,000