A local fire protection district could be in danger of going up in flames. With out-dated equipment, and no money to get new gear, they could be forced to close.

Here at the Schaeferville fire department, conditions are getting increasingly dangerous for the firefighters due to lack of funds, with worn out gear and equipment, not only could their lives hang in the balance, but also the future of their fire house.

It's been a rough year for the Schaferville Fire Protection District. Last year a fire did considerable damage to their building, and more recently, empty houses have left them searching for funds.

"The only kind of community money we get is from insurance, and some people around here may not even pay their insurance", said firefighter, Jake Barber.

And now, the volunteer firefighters are finding themselves responding to emergencies in 20-year-old worn out gear.

"You see how it's all worn out like that, it looks rubbery, and if you look in the middle here, it's all torn and rotted out", said Barber holding up his fire pants.

He says the old knee pads on his fire pants have proven dangerous for him in the past. "On my knees in it and I can feel every-thing, sharp stuff, sticks, anything, it hurts".

The firefighters say out of the 20 suits they have only about four are compliant, and most of those were purchased out-of pocket for about a thousand dollars each, and not all of the firemen have gear of their own.

"They'll grab somebody's gear that close to fits them, and they'll take it and throw it on even if it doesn't fit them right or properly", said Barber.

They say the situation with their trucks and equipment isn't much better. according to Lieutenant Mike Higgs, they're "either leaking water out of the tanks, transmission fluid, air conditioning going out, radio problems".

Barber says they' are "having problems with our thermal imaging camera, which we only have one of. Mostly just gear problems, old gear".

The volunteers respond to about 300 calls a year, many of with are in conjunction with Cincinnati and South Pekin's departments, but they worry, if they can't bring their equipment up to code, they'll be forced to close.

"We're like a family. It'd be a hard thing, a really hard thing if we got shut down" said the firefighter.

In the coming months, they hope to raise enough money to stay afloat, and continue their passion for saving lives.

The Schaeferville Fire Protection District will hold a fund raiser next Wednesday at the Culver's of Pekin from five to eight p-m. or to donate, you can contact them at SFPD.US, or give them a call at (309) 347-1734.