Infrastructure illinois state fire assistance

This federal Project Grant award, provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service under the State & Private Forestry Cooperative Fire Assistance program (CFDA 10.698), will support the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) in implementing various wildfire prevention, control, and management activities across non-federal forest and rural lands in Illinois.

The $132,790 award, which was granted on August 7, 2024, will fund IDNR's efforts to enhance forest resilience, promote fire-adapted communities, and protect lives and property from wildfire risks. This includes hazardous fuels reduction, community wildfire protection planning, fire prevention education, incident management support, and capacity building for fire departments and forestry agencies. IDNR may also leverage academic partnerships with state universities like the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Southern Illinois University, and Eastern Illinois University to enhance research and conservation efforts. The project is expected to be completed by September 30, 2028.