Excerpts from the herald-news.com:

Over $77,000 will be shared by 78 Illinois fire departments through Illinois American Water’s 2018 Firefighter Grant Program.

Since the program was created in 2010, more than 500 grants totaling over $493,000 have been awarded to fire and emergency organizations serving customers in Illinois American Water’s service area. American Water’s Firefighter Grant Program helps provide personal protective gear, communications equipment, firefighting tools, water handling equipment, training materials and classroom programs.

Illinois American Water is providing grants to the following local fire departments: Homer Township Fire Protection District, Lemont Fire Protection District, Northwest Homer Fire Protection District, Orland Fire Protection District, and Plainfield Fire Protection District.