The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has announced the recipients of its 2026 Small Equipment Grant Program, awarding a total of $6 million to 260 fire departments, fire protection districts and EMS providers across Illinois.
Among the local recipients is the Bedford Township Fire Protection District in Wayne County, which will receive the maximum grant award of $26,000.
The Small Equipment Grant Program was created to help fire departments and nonprofit ambulance services purchase essential equipment that may otherwise be difficult to obtain due to limited funding. The grants are designed to assist agencies that face challenges generating the revenue needed to replace or acquire smaller firefighting and emergency medical service equipment.
According to the OSFM, 355 applications were submitted during this grant cycle, requesting approximately $8.1 million in funding. Due to the high demand, not all applicants could be funded.
Most Illinois fire departments, fire protection districts, township fire departments and stand-alone nonprofit ambulance service providers were eligible to apply for the grants. To qualify, fire department applicants were required to participate in both the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) for at least two years prior to applying.
State officials said the program provides an innovative solution to a longstanding challenge faced by emergency service agencies, particularly those serving smaller communities with limited budgets.
The grant funding will help departments across the state improve their equipment inventories and enhance their ability to provide emergency services to residents.