MATCHING GRANTS PROGRAM OFFERS HELP TO ILLINOIS FIRE DEPARTMENTS

A number of Southern Illinois fire departments and fire protection districts will share more than $125,000 in federal matching funds under a Rural Community Fire Protection grant program to provide equipment and training for rural fire-fighting agencies.

The grants range from $1,000 to $12,000, said Brent Manning, director of the Illinois Department of Conservation. "The thrust of the program is to expand the capabilities of local, rural fire-fighting departments so they can respond and combat any type of fire, from residential fires to wild-land blazes."

In some cases the grants will be used to convert excess federal vehicles into fire-fighting vehicles.

At Karnak, in Pulaski County, the fire department will use part of its $6,779 to rebuild a former Army pickup into a brush fire-fighting vehicle.

"These federal excess vehicles are those previously used by the military," said a spokesman of one Southern Illinois fire department. "The vehicles can be acquired by the Forestry Department, which places them on assignment with various fire departments. They range from pickups to large dump trucks that can be converted."

For 20 years grants have been instrumental in providing equipment, training, protective clothing and other essential items for financially strapped rural fire units.

Nationally, $3.5 million was appropriated for the programs. Illinois' share, based on the number of eligible communities in the state, was the fourth-highest allocation in the nation. During that same 20-year span, 1,196 grants totaling more than $2.4 million have been awarded to rural fire departments.

Among those who will receive 1994 grants are:

-- Mound City Volunteer Fire Department, $1,046 for equipment.

-- Mounds Fire Department, $1,646 for equipment.

-- Pulaski Volunteer Fire Department, Pulaski County, $4,000 for equipment and training.

-- Ullin Fire Department, $12,000 for equipment, conversion of an excess government vehicle and training.

-- Grand Chain Volunteer Fire Department, Pulaski County, $11,970 for equipment, conversion of a federal excess vehicle and training.

-- Karnak Fire Department, Pulaski County, $6,779, for equipment, conversion of vehicle and training.

-- Gorham Volunteer Fire Department, Jackson County, $2,916 for equipment.

-- Lake Egypt Fire Protection District, Williamson County, $4,209, for equipment.