Illinois American Water awards over $88,000 in firefighter grants
Over $88,000 will be shared by 90 Illinois fire departments through Illinois American Water's 2019 Firefighter Grant Program.
Since the program was created in 2010, over 590 grants totaling over $582,000 have been awarded to fire and emergency organizations serving customers in Illinois American Water's service area.
"We know the critical role water plays in protecting homes and businesses; we also know resources for our local heroes often run short. The Illinois American Water firefighter grant program was created to help bridge the gap and support our local firefighters," said Bruce Hauk, Illinois American Water president.
Illinois American Water's Firefighter Grant Program awards grants to provide personal protective gear, communications equipment, firefighting tools, water handling equipment, training materials and classroom programs.
The grants are being announced in conjunction with National Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 6-12, 2019, to raise awareness about the importance of fire prevention and emergency planning.
This year's Fire Prevention Week theme is "Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!" It educates about the importance of learning and practicing a home fire escape plan.
Learn more at www.nfpa.org/public-education/campaigns/fire-prevention-week.
Illinois American Water is providing firefighting grants to the following Illinois fire departments:
Northern Illinois:
Des Plaines Fire Department, Elmhurst Fire Department, Elgin Fire Department, Homer Township Fire Protection District, Lemont Fire Protection District, Lisle-Woodridge Fire District, Lombard Fire Department, Mount Prospect Fire Department, Northwest Homer Fire Protection District, Orland Fire Protection District, Oswego Fire Protection District, Plainfield Fire Protection District, Prospect Heights Fire Protection District, Rockton Fire Protection District, Romeoville Fire Department, Warrenville Fire Protection District, South Beloit Fire & Rescue, Sterling Fire Department, Allen Township Fire Protection District, Grand Ridge Volunteer Fire Department, Leonore Volunteer Fire Department, Long Point Community Volunteer Fire Protection District, and Streator Fire Department
Central Illinois:
Arcola Fire Department, Carroll Fire Protection District, Champaign Fire Department, Eastern Prairie Fire Protection District, Edge-Scott Fire Protection District, Sangamon Valley Fire Protection District (Village of Fisher), Pesotum Fire Protection District, Sadorus Fire Protection District, Savoy Fire Department, Sidney Fire Protection District, St. Joseph-Stanton Fire Department, Tolono Fire Protection District, Tuscola Fire Department, U of I Willard Airport Fire Department, Urbana Fire Department, Lincoln Fire Department, Lincoln Rural Fire Department, Cincinnati Fire Protection District, City of Pekin Fire Department, North Pekin Fire Department, Bartonville Fire Department, Farmington Fire Protection District, Chillicothe Community Fire Protection District, Limestone Township Fire Protection District, Timber-Hollis Fire Protection District, Logan Trivoli Fire Protection District, Peoria Fire Department, Dunlap Fire Protection District, Washington Fire Department, West Peoria Fire Protection District, Pontiac Fire Department, Saunemin Fire Protection District
Southern Illinois:
City of Alton Fire Department, Cottage Hills Fire Protection District, Godfrey Fire Protection District, QEM Fire Protection District, Cairo Fire Department, Belleville Fire Department, Brooklyn Fire Protection District, Cahokia Volunteer Fire Department, Church Road Fire Protection District, Columbia Fire Department, East Side Fire Protection District, East St. Louis Fire Department, Fairmont City Fire Department, Fairview Caseyville Township Fire Protection District, French Village Fire Department, Granite City Fire Department, Hamel Volunteer Fire Department, Holiday Shores Fire Department, Long Lake Fire Department, Madison Fire Department, Mascoutah Fire Department, Midway Fire Protection District, Millstadt Union Fire Department, Mitchell Fire Department, Northwest Fire Protection District, Pocahontas - Old Ripley Fire Department, O'Fallon, Sauget Fire Department, Signal Hill Fire Department, St. Clair Special Emergency Services, Swansea Fire Department, Villa Hills Fire Department, Venice Fire Department, Washington Park Fire Department, and Worden Fire Department
In addition to the Firefighter Grant Program, Illinois American Water partners with local firefighters on a daily basis. As a private water utility, the company is required to test and operate every fire hydrant annually. According to Hauk, Illinois American Water maintains over 29,000 fire hydrants across the state.
About Illinois American Water - Illinois American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 1.3 million people. American Water also operates a customer service center in Alton and a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville. With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 7,100 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to more than 14 million people in 46 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to make sure we keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.