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$316,000 distributed to 36 Illinois fire departments

Dowell Volunteer Fire Department
Dowell Volunteer Fire Department

Some Illinois fire departments are getting some much-needed funds from the federal COVID relief program.

Three-hundred and sixteen thousand dollars will be distributed to 36 fire departments from the Illinois Fire Department COVID-19 Relief Grant.

The grants award up to fifteen thousand dollars to eligible combination or volunteer fire departments.

Dowell Fire Department received more than ten thousand dollars.

Fire Chief Austin Hardwig says they struggled to raise funds because they weren’t able to hold their annual barbecue and auction fundraiser.

“We have done a little thing here and there. We normally do gun raffles that seems to be a very good hit for our town. We've kind of stayed afloat with small things like that. I operate, I say I But the village of now, the fire department operate on a very, very small, limited budget.”

They plan to use the grant to buy new gear, hoses, tools and other equipment.

Benjy Jeffords is a digital media production specialist at WSIU Public Broadcasting located at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Contact WSIU Radio at 618-453-6101 or email wsiunews@wsiu.org
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