(WAND) - Rural volunteer fire departments can claims grants of up to $10,000 in an Illinois Department of Natural Resources program. 

Grants are available through through the Illinois DNR's Volunteer Fire Assistance Program. The grants cover 50 percent of costs of programs and equipment. This includes breathing equipment, protective clothing, training, dry hydrant installation, communication equipment, ATVs and more. 

Grants will only be given to departments that serve areas with a population of under 10,000 people and can't be used for EMS, HazMat or crash rescue programs. 

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