Hoopeston gets funds to purchase new equipment; Federal grant will go toward firefighter gear

February 1, 2005
By JASON COKER

HOOPESTON - New firefighter gear and air compression equipment will be purchased by the Hoopeston Volunteer Fire Department with a $95,000 federal grant awarded Jan. 26.

Fire Chief Greg Shipman said that with assistance from U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson $94,972 was awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a matching grant, with the city giving an extra $10,000 to the department. Shipman said the money will go to buy much-needed equipment.

"We're getting a new air compressor system for air packs, and we're going to get all new air packs, a fill station and a cascade system for the truck itself, and we are going to get some gear for our youngest firemen," Shipman said.

The fire truck's cascade system will have four tanks, which Shipman said can fill 55 air bottles at the scene of a fire call. Also, the grant will pay for 16 new air packs, each with a spare bottle.

He said that the department needs the new equipment, because federal standards for air compression systems have been updated a lot since the Sept. 11, 2001 , attacks and all of the department's equipment is still out of date.

Shipman said the fire department also plans to buy six sets of gear for its youngest firefighters, who currently work with used gear. The gear will include pants, coats, helmets, boots and gloves.

Shipman said the fire department will save a lot of money by receiving the grant. He said the new equipment will be purchased in about two months.

"It's going to help in the following years. We still need more gear, but it's going to help us afford more things in the future. As far as the budget, we don't have to worry about the gear situation," Shipman said.

Matt Bisbee, press secretary for Johnson, said the congressman's office is constantly working with first-responder units throughout the 15th District by helping with the FEMA application process.

"Fire departments have shown a need for modernization. The equipment is expensive and they can't find the money easily," Bisbee said.

He said that FEMA has been very active since the Sept. 11 attacks in providing federal dollars to local emergency management agencies across the country.

Bisbee said Johnson's office typically announces a new grant to first responders once a month, and Johnson will likely go to Hoopeston to inspect the new equipment when it arrives.

Hoopeston city council member Brandon Hamilton said the fire department is constantly trying to keep itself modern to deal with new challenges. He said the department currently serves all of Grant Township and has for the past few years.

Hamilton said the fire department will be sending three firefighters to a grant-writing class Feb. 5 in Kankakee to try and secure another FEMA grant next year. He said the firefighters will be Shipman, and assistant chiefs Allan Baker and Chad Yaden.

Hamilton said those three did the research and data processing to acquire this year's grant. He said grant writing is a complex and time-consuming project, and last year the fire department was able to secure funds to buy thermal imaging equipment.

"As far as receiving the grant, morale is going to skyrocket. It's going to make their jobs easier and it's going to help the cause," Hamilton said. "We want to be as efficient and effective as possible with minimal risk to all parties."