Ill. fire departments to share $1.5M in federal grants

The Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Fire departments in Illinois will share more than $1.5 million in grant money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin announced the grants, which come from the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. In the Chicago area, fire departments in Bellwood, Bolingbrook, Calumet City, North Riverside and Leyden will receive money. Calumet City will get nearly $380,000 and Westchester will receive about $440,000.

In central Illinois, departments in Standard, Urbana and Elkhart will receive funding. The southern Illinois towns of Alton, Ashley, Centralia, Granite City and Washington County will also get money.