Manhattan Fire District Awarded $32K Grant For Additional Safety Gear

MANHATTAN, IL — The Manhattan Fire Protection District has been awarded more than $30,000 in a grant to purchase additional gear to enhance protection for firefighters on the job.

Presented by Earthrise Energy, the $32,974 RISE Grant will fund the purchase of 10 sets of dual-certified brush fire gear, auto extrication gear and 4 sets of structural firefighting personal protective equipment. This essential equipment is designed to reduce cancer risks for firefighters while improving performance during brush fires, technical rescues, and vehicle extrications.

Firefighters face a significantly elevated risk of developing cancer due to exposure to hazardous carcinogens during fire incidents. The new gear—certified for both wildland firefighting and technical rescue—offers enhanced protection by reducing exposure to harmful combustion by-products. It also allows for greater operational flexibility across a wide range of emergency scenarios.

“Cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of death among firefighters,” said Steve Malone, Fire Chief of the Manhattan Fire Protection District. “This grant from Earthrise will help ensure every firefighter has the gear needed to safely respond to emergencies without compromising their long-term health. It also helps us preserve our structural firefighting gear for critical situations, extending its service life and reducing replacement costs.”

In addition to improving firefighter safety, the grant allows the department to reduce wear and tear on its more costly structural PPE, ultimately enhancing emergency preparedness across fire suppression and rescue operations.

“Firefighters show up for all of us—often in the most dangerous and unpredictable situations,” said Talya Tavor, Director of Community Engagement at Earthrise Energy. “We’re proud to support the Manhattan Fire Protection District with resources that protect their health and well-being, just as they protect the health and safety of their neighbors.”

Earthrise Energy’s RISE Grant program has awarded over $1 million in grants to community-focused organizations across Illinois.