Money Drying Up for Rural Illinois Fire Districts

The Cooks Mills Fire Protection District in Illinois recently held a sausage patty and pancake fundraising breakfast this past weekend to raise money for supplies.

The Mattoon Journal-Gazette reports many rural fire protection districts across Illinois are facing a financial crunch. Cooks Mills might raise up to $1,000 with its event and up to $4,000 with a June pork chop dinner.

Cooks Mills fire Chief Jim Hilgenberg says the budget for his 18 firefighters would be tight without the fundraisers. He says there is higher federal certification testing and state and grant monies have dried up.

Officials say the firehouse runs on about $22,000 a year but expenses are mounting. The firefighters argue rural districts are needed because they lower response times.

Cooks Mills is about 8 miles north of Mattoon.