Divernon Fire District Receives Grant for Radio Equipment

The Divernon Fire Protection Distict has received a $21,353.60 grant from Energy Transfer through the company’s First Responder Fund to support upgrades to the district’s radio communications equipment.

The funding was used to modify 11 existing pieces of communications equipment and to purchase new radios and headsets. The upgrades improve the district’s ability to communicate with mutual-aid partners in neighboring counties during emergency responses.

Over the past two years, Sangamon County has transitioned to the 800 MHz StarCom radio system. However, many surrounding counties that provide or receive mutual aid have not yet made the switch, creating challenges for on-scene communication.

“This leaves communication on emergency scenes, which is critical for emergency response and firefighter safety, difficult at best,” said Divernon Fire Chief Randall Rhodes. “This grant from Energy Transfer enabled us to modify our existing radio equipment and purchase new equipment, providing reliable communication with our neighboring mutual aid partners.”

Energy Transfer is one of the nation’s largest energy logistics companies, operating approximately 140,000 miles of pipelines and dozens of marketing terminals across the United States.

The company’s First Responder Fund provides grants on a rolling basis to support the mission of first responder organizations, including fire departments, emergency medical services, emergency management agencies, and law enforcement. Grants are awarded through a competitive application and review process.

“Supporting first responders in the areas where we operate is a top priority at Energy Transfer, and part of that means keeping the men and women safe who are responding to emergencies,” said Chris Koop, manager of public affairs at Energy Transfer. “These radio upgrades will go a long way to help Divernon firefighters better communicate and stay safe while protecting communities in the area.”