Illinois American Water Awards 122 Firefighter Grants for National First Responders Day

BELLEVILLE, Ill., Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- This year, 122 Illinois fire departments and districts have been awarded more than $121,000 through Illinois American Water's Firefighter Grant Program. The awards build on nearly 1,300 grants totaling over $1.25 million provided to fire and emergency organizations serving customers in Illinois American Water's service area over the last 16 years.

The grants benefit residents across Illinois by helping fire departments meet critical equipment needs. Granite City Fire Chief Todd Richey said, "The funding addresses an immediate need for a specialized atmospheric gas testing meter, which firefighters use to check for natural gas or carbon monoxide leaks during emergency responses at industrial facilities, commercial buildings and homes."

Illinois American Water's Firefighter Grant Program is an application-based program with eligibility requirements and provides funding for organizations to purchase personal protective gear, communications equipment, firefighting tools, water handling equipment and training materials and to provide community education.

"Illinois American Water plays an important role in protecting homes and businesses by providing reliable water for firefighters to use when putting out fires," says Brian Eisenloeffel, President, Illinois American Water. "Through our partnerships with local fire departments, we help provide the tools, equipment, and resources firefighters need to keep our communities safe in emergency situations."

 The following Illinois fire departments will receive funding:

• Alhambra Community Fire Protection District
• Allen Township Fire Protection District
• Alton Fire Department
• Andalusia Fire Protection District
• Arcola Fire Protection District
• Belleville Fire Department
• Brighton Betsey Ann Fire Protection District
• Broadlands Longview Fire Protection District
• Cahokia Volunteer Fire Department
• Cairo Auxiliary Fire Department
• Camargo Countryside Fire Protection District
• Carroll Fire Protection District
• Champaign Fire Department
• Cincinnati Fire Protection District
• City of Freeport Fire Department
• City of Peoria, IL Fire Department
• City of Urbana Fire Department
• City of Villa Grove Fire Department
• Columbia Fire Protection Distrct
• Cottage Hills Fire Protection District
• Dana Fire Protection District
• Deerfield - Bannockburn Fire Protection District
• Des Plaines Fire Department
• Dunlap Community Fire Protection District
• East St. Louis Fire Department
• East Side Fire Protection District
• Eastern Prairie Fire Protection District
• Edge-Scott Fire Department
• Elgin Fire Department
• Elmhurst Fire Department
• Fairmont City Fire Department
• Fairview Caseyville Township Fire Protection District
• Farmington Fire Protection District
• French Village Fire Department
• Glen Carbon Fire Protection District
• Godfrey Fire Protection District
• Grand Ridge Volunteer Fire Department
• Granite City Fire Department
• Greenville Fire Protection District
• Hamel Fire Protection District
• Hardin Fire Protection District
• Holiday Shores Fire Department
• Hollywood heights volunteer fire department
• Homer Twp Fire Protection District
• Jerseyville Fire Department
• Joliet Fire Department
• Lake Zurich Fire Department
• Lemont Fire Protection District
• Leonore Volunteer Fire Department
• Limestone Township Fire Protect District
• Lincoln Fire Department
• Lincoln Rural Fire Protection District
• Lisle - Woodridge Fire District
• Logan - Trivoli Fire Protection District
• Lombard Fire Department
• Long Lake Fire Department
• Long Point Fire Protection District
• Marine community fire protection district
• Mascoutah Fire Department
• Millstadt Union Fire Department
• Mitchell Fire Department
• Mokena Fire Protection District
• Mt. Pulaski Rural Fire Protection District
• Northwest Homer Fire Protection District
• Northwest St. Clair County Fire Protection District
• Oakwood Fire Protection District
• O'Fallon Fire Department
• Olive Fire Protection District
• Oregon Fire Protection District
• Orland Fire Protection District
• Oswego Fire Protection DIstrict
• Palos Fire Protection District
• Peatonica fire protection District
• Pesotum Fire department
• Plainfield Fire Protection District
• Pocahontas - Old Ripley Fire Protection District
• Pontiac Fire Department
• Prospect Heights Fire Department
• QEM Fire Protection District
• Reading Township Volunteer Fire Department
• Rockton Fire Protection District
• Romeoville Fire Department
• Rosiclare Volunteer Fire Department
• Sadorus Fire Department
• Sandwich Fire Protection District
• Sangamon Valley Fire Protection District
• Sauget Fire Department
• Saunemin Fire Protection District
• Scales Mound Fire Protection District
• Schaeferville Fire Protection District
• Sidney Fire Protection District
• Signal Hill Fire Department
• Somonauk Firefighters Association
• South Beloit Fire Department
• South Elgin & Countryside Fire Protection District
• Southwestern Illinois College Fire Science
• St Clair Special Emergency Services
• St. Charles Fire Department
• St. Joseph - Stanton Fire Protection District
• Sterling Fire Department
• Streator Fire Department
• Swansea Fire Department
• Tolono Fire Protection District
• Tremont Fire Protection District
• Troy Fire Protection District
• Tuscola Fire Department
• University of Illinois Willard Airport Fire Department
• Varna Community Fire Protection District
• Venice Fire Department
• Villa Hills Fire Department
• Village of Bartonville Fire Department
• Village of Brooklyn
• Village of Clarendon Hills
• Village of Mount Prosect Fire Department
• Village of Savoy Fire Department
• Warrenville Fire Protection District
• Washington Park Fire Department
• Washington Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad
• West Peoria Fire Protection District
• Win-Bur-Sew Fire District
• Worden Volunteer Fire Department
• York Center Fire Protection District

To bring attention to the importance of fire prevention and emergency planning, the awards follow National Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 4 - Oct. 10, and are announced in concert with National First Responders Day. Learn more at www.nfpa.org.

About American Water
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886 and celebrating 140 years in 2026, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to approximately 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 19 military installations. American Water's approximately 7,000 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company's national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.

About Illinois American Water
Illinois American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest regulated water utility in the state with approximately 600 dedicated employees working to provide safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 1.3 million people. American Water also operates a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville. 

SOURCE American Water