The village’s required 10 percent match amounts to $23,863, for a total of $262,500. The money will be used to help purchase 35 new air packs, which allow firefighters to safely breathe in smoky and other hazardous conditions.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for the Carpentersville Fire Department to modernize its life-saving equipment with minimal impact on the village’s budget,” said Village Manager Mark Rooney.

The purpose of the grant program is to protect the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel. This is the fifth AFG grant the Carpentersville Fire Department has received since 2009, allowing for the purchase of $449,475 in equipment while saving the village $404,500.

“As a fire department we try to go above and beyond to find cost-effective ways to improve the equipment that we utilize in order to provide better services and creating safer working environments,” said Fire Chief John-Paul Schilling.

The previously awarded grants were used to purchase diesel exhaust removal systems for all three fire stations, install mobile data terminals in all fire trucks and ambulances, 52 structural fire helmets, and power cots and lift systems for the three front-line ambulances. All five of the grants have been authored by firefighter Tony Ferreiro with help from fellow members of the fire department.

“After the recession hit and money started getting tight, I realized, ‘Hey, there’s free money out there, and we have vital but expensive equipment that needs to be replaced,’ ” Ferreiro said.

Each year, when the new AFG opportunities are announced, Ferreiro sits down with the battalion chiefs to prioritize which grants they should focus their efforts on based on the needs of the department. He said the ultimate reason he spends the time and effort writing grants is to ensure the Carpentersville Fire Department has the most up-to-date, critically needed equipment and protective gear to safely respond to emergencies.

“As a new fire chief, I’m incredibly honored to be surrounded by individuals who take it upon themselves to work outside the realm of what a traditional firefighter does,” Chief Schilling said, adding that having someone highly skilled in grant writing and knowledgeable of the detailed application requirements makes the department more competitive for the awards.

“I would like to express my gratitude to Tony for his dedication and persistence in pursuit of these grant opportunities on behalf of the village of Carpentersville,” Rooney said.

SOURCE: Village of Carpentersville news release