CATLIN - U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson today announced the receipt of a fire safety award to the Catlin Fire Protection District. The Catlin district was one of only nine in the state to be awarded a grant under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

Catlin will receive $41,648 to assist in fire education and safety programs.

"This is an extremely deserving award for a department that has unselfishly devoted considerable time and energy in building up an effective and much-needed fire safety program," said Rep. Johnson. "I'm proud our office was able to help them."

Ryan Allison, a member of the Catlin Fire Protection District, said the department is honored and excited to receive the grant. The money will be used in part to replace its Project Safe House, a 10-year-old fire safety trailer used in education programs. Catlin will host Project Safe House as it is shared in education-related activities with 40 departments in the Illinois and Indiana Fire Association covering a region of East Central Illinois and western Indiana.

"This is a big boost and a big honor for us. We're very pleased with the award," said Allison, who is also vice president of the Illinois and Indiana Fire Association. The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Domestic Preparedness administers the program. The office received approximately 20,400 applications for grants under the program.

Other departments receiving grants are located in Lombard, Chicago, Grayslake, Morton Grove, Kankakee, Alton, Belleville and Springfield.

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