The Homer Sun
By Louise Brass, Staff writer
April 2, 2008
More firefighters in Lemont and Homer Township can be hired soon, thanks to $1.4 million in grants from the federal government.
U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert presented $948,000 to the Homer Township Fire Prevention District and $316,000 to the Lemont Fire Protection District on March 27, at a gathering of fire chiefs, area mayors and fire department personnel at Lemont Fire Station 1.
"Our firefighters put it on the line for us every day. Making sure they are well-equipped, well-staffed and well-protected is the least we must do," Biggert said.
The need for proper fire protection is very real to her because, she said, she lost her mother in a fire.
"We live in a dangerous world now. You are all our heroes," she told the firefighters.
Local fire officials were thrilled to get the grant money.
"This gets us that much closer to having a safer number of firefighters ready to respond to our residents needs when they call for help," said Lemont Fire Chief Carl Churulo.
The departments presented Biggert with a plaque expressing their gratitude for her help over the years.
"Congresswoman Biggert has always been a friend to the fire service and we could not be happier with the help we get from her and her staff," Churulo said. "We are going to be able to hire three new firefighters and Homer is going to be getting nine."
He said that he already has a waiting list of names of people who would like to join the staff of 49 Lemont firefighters.
Homer Township Fire District officials are also happy about the grants.
"The Homer Township Fire District is in an area that's really growing," said Fire Chief Michael Schofield. "Up until last year we depended mostly on a part-time program. It's hard to maintain a part-time program in today's world. We really expect a lot out of our people. To get your own people, your own career people, really means a lot."
Homer Township currently has 30 firefighters serving a district with about 35,000 residents. The district, which covers about 22 square miles, includes parts of Lockport, New Lenox and Homer Glen.
Local officials noted that the demands being put on fire departments are growing every day.
"Since 9/11, the face of the fire service has changed in the United States. We are not just here to be paramedics and put out fires," Schofield said. "We are expected to do everything. No matter what happens today in our communities, we are expected to be able to perform."
He said the employees he can hire with the grant money will have an immediate impact.
"These nine firefighters are going to make a dramatic difference in our ability to provide service. When we go out the door with four people instead of three, our ability to get the job done is far greater," he said.
The federal funds come via the Safer Program, which provides extra resources to local fire districts to hire and train additional front-line personnel.
"I think it's fantastic," said Homer Glen Mayor Jim Daley, who attended the grant presentation ceremony. "We need more firefighters." |