The Kell Fire Protection District has received a $348,000 grant from the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal.
The money will be used to construct a 24 by 80 foot addition on the northeast side of the new fire station.
Assistant Chief Jason Franke says the addition will house another apparatus that is currently still housed across the street in the old fire station. It will also have a couple of rooms for offices or storage space.
When finished, turnout apparatus will be kept in a ventilated room. Right now, it is stored behind one of the trucks exposing it to exhaust which can be cancer causing.
Franke says they don't heat the old fire station in the winter so there are some issues with that which can be eliminated by moving the equipment to an enlarged new station.
The Kell Fire Department's grant is one of 16 awarded statewide totaling $5- million. The money can be used for repair, upgrade or construction of a new fire station.
Governor JB Pritzker says this is the inaugural year for the grant program. He says firefighters put their lives on the line every single day and these investments can make all the difference in keeping our communities safe.
