The McLeansboro Fire Department has been awarded almost $26,000 in grant money from the Illinois State Fire Marshall that will be used, along with additional funds from the City of McLeansboro, to upgrade the department’s aging Self Contained Breathing Apparatus.

According to a post on the fire department’s Facebook page, the department’s current Self Contained Breathing Apparatus inventory is in need of significant repairs, and a complete new set is estimated to cost around $130,000.

Officials say this money will definitely ease that expense to the city.