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.
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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.”
Additional information about grant requirements and opportunities can be found on the IDNR grants website and the Illinois Catalog of State Financial Assistance.
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
