, August 25, 2025
News Summary
In a Shawneetown ceremony, the state awarded significant grants to three Southern Illinois fire departments to repair, upgrade or build stations and buy equipment. Shawneetown and Carrier Mills each received $350,000 while Equality was awarded $300,000. These awards are part of the inaugural Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation Program, which distributed $5 million to 16 grantees statewide. The state fire marshal highlighted complementary programs including a 0% interest truck and ambulance revolving loan and a small equipment grant program for gear like air packs. Funds will move into planning, procurement and construction according to local timelines.
Southern Illinois Fire Departments Receive Major Funding for Stations and Equipment
State officials delivered a package of construction and equipment funding to three Southern Illinois fire departments during a visit to Shawneetown. The Shawneetown Fire Department and the Carrier Mills Fire Department each received $350,000, while the Equality Fire Department received $300,000. These awards are part of a new statewide program aimed at repairing, upgrading, or building fire stations.
Top points
- Program focus: construction and rehabilitation of fire stations.
- Local awards at event: Shawneetown $350,000; Carrier Mills $350,000; Equality $300,000.
- Statewide context: the inaugural round distributed a total of $5 million to 16 grantees across the state.
- Other supports: a 0% interest revolving loan for vehicles and a small equipment grant for costly gear were also discussed and demonstrated at the visit.
What happened at the Shawneetown event
The State Fire Marshal visited the Shawneetown Fire Department to present the awards. At the event, representatives showed new equipment bought with other state programs: Carrier Mills displayed a recently acquired fire engine purchased through a 0% interest revolving loan program, and Shawneetown demonstrated new air packs bought with a small equipment grant. Local leaders described the funding as essential for departments facing high vehicle and construction costs, and said the awards will allow stations to upgrade facilities and provide safer, modern working space for firefighters.
About the grant program
The Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation Program is in its inaugural year and was set up to help fire departments repair, upgrade, or build new stations. The program offers grants of up to $350,000 per project. Recipients were selected through a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity process that was open to fire departments, fire protection districts, and township fire departments.
Scope of statewide awards
In this first round, the program awarded a total of $5 million statewide to 16 different grantees. The awards were announced as part of a broader effort to strengthen emergency response infrastructure and to help smaller, often volunteer, departments afford modern stations and critical gear.
Local impact and system of supports
Local leaders at the event said the combination of grants and other state programs provides practical tools: grants for building work, a revolving loan fund to buy costly trucks with no interest, and a small equipment grant to replace or add life-saving gear such as air packs. One department chief noted that without grant support, planned station renovations and equipment purchases would not be possible. A mayor at the event highlighted that modern fire trucks commonly run well beyond several hundred thousand dollars, making the 0% loan program a key option for towns that cannot cover those upfront costs.
Recipients in this inaugural round (selected highlights)
Awards were made across many counties and included small and larger grants tailored to local needs. Highlights include multiple departments receiving the program maximum, and other departments receiving smaller but meaningful awards to support renovations or new construction.
A full list of the 16 recipients follows in the table below.
FAQ
Who received funding in Southern Illinois?
Shawneetown Fire Department and Carrier Mills Fire Department each received $350,000, and Equality Fire Department received $300,000.
What is the purpose of the funding?
The money is intended to repair, upgrade, or build fire stations and to improve safety and infrastructure for firefighters and the communities they serve.
How were projects chosen?
Projects were selected through a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity process open to eligible local fire entities such as departments and fire protection districts.
Are there other programs that help departments?
Yes. The office operates a 0% interest Fire Truck and Ambulance Revolving Loan for vehicles and a Small Equipment Grant to help buy high-cost gear like air packs.
How much money was awarded statewide in this round?
The inaugural round awarded $5 million to 16 grantees across the state.
Who can apply for these grants?
Eligible applicants include fire departments, fire protection districts, and township fire departments that meet the Notice of Funding Opportunity requirements.
Where can departments get more information?
Departments should contact the state fire marshal’s office or visit the office’s public information resources for application details, timelines, and program requirements.
Inaugural Grant Recipients and Award Amounts (2025)
| County | Department | Award Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander | Tamms Fire Department | $71,011 |
| Gallatin | Equality Fire Department | $300,000 |
| Gallatin | Shawneetown Fire Department | $350,000 |
| Hamilton | McLeansboro Fire Department | $350,000 |
| Jackson | Village of Gorham Volunteer Fire Department | $350,000 |
| Johnson | Buncombe Fire Department | $350,000 |
| Johnson | Vienna Fire Department | $350,000 |
| Marion | Kell Community Fire Protection District | $348,000 |
| Mason | Bath Fire Protection District | $350,000 |
| Montgomery | Witt Volunteer Fire Protection District | $331,000 |
| Morgan | Village of Chapin Fire Department | $28,415 |
| Morgan | Franklin Fire Protection District | $350,000 |
| Pike | Spring Creek Fire Protection District | $350,000 |
| Saline | Carrier Mills Fire Department | $350,000 |
| Union | Ware-Wolf Lake Fire Protection District | $349,789 |
| White | Norris City Fire Protection District | $71,785 |
Key features of the program and related supports
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Program name | Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation Program (inaugural year) |
| Maximum grant | $350,000 for construction or rehabilitation |
| Selection process | Competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) |
| Eligible applicants | Fire departments, fire protection districts, township fire departments |
| Other OSFM supports | 0% interest Fire Truck and Ambulance Revolving Loan; Small Equipment Grant Program |
| Statewide inaugural total | $5,000,000 awarded to 16 grantees |
| Intended outcomes | Improved station safety, upgraded training space, new construction where needed |
Notes: At the local presentation, the three Southern Illinois awards add up to $1,000,000. Separate statements at the event referenced different totals in some reports; the statewide inaugural program amount for the 16 grantees is $5,000,000.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- The Southern: State fire marshal’s office awards $1M to Southern Illinois fire departments
- Wikipedia: Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation Program (Illinois)
- WSIL-TV: Shawneetown, Carrier Mills fire stations get $1M in state grants
- Google Search: Southern Illinois fire station construction grants
- WPSD Local 6: State fire marshal’s office awards $1M to Southern Illinois fire departments
- Google Scholar: Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation Program Illinois
- KBSI23: Fire marshal awards $1.5 million to Southern Illinois fire departments
- Encyclopedia Britannica: fire stations grants Illinois
- RiverBender: OSFM awards $5 million for construction or rehabilitation of fire stations in Illinois
- Google News: Southern Illinois fire station grants
