SPRINGFIELD, IL — Four area fire protection districts are among 31 from across Illinois that will benefit from more than $225,000 in federal grants from the USDA Forest Service Volunteer Fire Assistance federal grant program.

The program provides matching funds to aid fire departments in the purchase of new equipment and helps fund training.

The Goreville Fire Protection District will get $8,040 for radios and personal protective equipment gear.

The Lake Egypt Fire Protection District will receive $9,993 for personal protective equipment gear, portable radios, water packs and a portable water pump.

The McLeansboro Fire Protection District will get $9,875 for VHF portable radios and portable speaker microphones.

The Vienna Fire Protection District will see $6,250 for air cylinders/turnout gear – coats and pants.

The Volunteer Fire Assistance grant program reimburses 50 percent of the recipients’ costs for providing training and acquiring equipment to assist local firefighters. Grant recipients must make the initial financial outlay for the projects before being reimbursed. The grants announced Monday are supporting more than $474,000 in equipment for local firefighters.

The USDA Forest Service grant program is administered in Illinois by the IDNR. No state funds are involved.