Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District Awarded Federal Grant

ROUND LAKE, IL — The Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District was among half a dozen north suburban municipalities and fire protection districts to receive federal grants for local firefighters this month. The district was awarded $52,728 from the Assistance to Firefighter Grant program to buy self-contained breathing apparatus units. The grants are provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The program is designed to get critically needed firefighting resources to train and equip first responders. Since it began in 2001, it has helped fire departments and other fire responders buy much-needed equipment, including emergency vehicles, protective gear, training and other resources. Local departments are obligated to cover a portion of the grants.

The other north suburban grantees include four other fire departments and districts in Lake County and one in north Cook County:

The Fox Lake Fire Protection District was awarded $168,859 to buy a new exhaust system for each of the district's three fire stations. The direct source capture system will help protect firefighters from fumes from diesel-powered emergency vehicles.

Lake Forest was awarded $213,086 to purchase new air packs for its fire department. The department said its current breathing apparatus is nearing the end of its useful life.

Libertyville received a grant of $58,582 to repair and improve ventilation systems in its fire department's vehicles.

Niles was awarded $50,000 to pay for a replacement of the 26-year-old breathing air compressor in use by its fire department.

And in the largest Lake County award, the Waukegan Fire Department will be able to purchase a pumper truck with the help of a grant of more than $409,000.

In a release announcing the grants, 10th District Congressman Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield) said he was "thrilled" that six local communities were selected for the grants.

“Our firefighters and first responders daily answer the call and put their lives on the line on behalf of our communities,” Schneider said. “We owe it to them to ensure their departments have the resources and training they need to keep themselves and our neighborhoods safe."

Schneider said his office was available to help fire departments, nonprofit organizations and other local government entities find and apply for grant money from the federal government.

Since 2018, nearly $35 million in federal grants has been awarded to 51 organizations and people within Schneider's district, his office said, and he has written 34 letters of support on behalf of organizations applying for government funding.

A total of $690 million worth of FEMA firefighter assistance grants have been budgeted for the current fiscal year, according to the agency.

Read the complete list of grant recipients for Fiscal Year 2017 »

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