Injury & Disability Support
Financial protection when you're injured in the line of duty.
When You're Injured, We're Here
Volunteer firefighting involves risk. When injury happens, you shouldn't have to worry about finances while you focus on healing. The relief association provides:
- Medical expense assistance for out-of-pocket costs not covered by insurance
- Lost income support during recovery periods
- Rehabilitation and therapy cost assistance
- Equipment needs such as medical devices during recovery
- Transportation assistance for medical appointments
- Permanent disability benefits for career-ending injuries
Supplemental Accident & Insurance Program
The association carries a Supplemental Accident/Insurance Program that covers all firefighters who become injured or ill as a result of fire department-authorized activities. This coverage picks up where workers’ compensation leaves off, providing supplemental income reimbursement during recovery.
- Coverage is determined by each department’s authorized activities
- The insurance carrier is chosen through a competitive bid process requiring proposals from at least two carriers
- Proposals detailing scope of coverage, available benefits, and annual cost are presented to the full membership for final decision
- Claims are filed by the injured party through the Fire Chief and sent directly to the insurance carrier for processing
Types of Support
Medical Expenses
Help with costs not covered by insurance: deductibles, co-pays, emergency care, specialist visits, prescriptions, and medical equipment like crutches or braces.
Lost Income
If injury prevents you from working: short-term financial assistance during recovery, extended support for prolonged healing, and help bridging the gap before disability benefits begin.
Rehabilitation
Recovery often requires ongoing care: physical therapy sessions, occupational therapy, mental health counseling for trauma, and home modifications if needed for accessibility.
Permanent Disability
For career-ending injuries: financial support for long-term impact, retraining assistance for career transition, and continued family support as needed.
What Injuries Are Covered?
Relief association benefits typically cover injuries sustained:
- During emergency response — Fires, rescues, EMS calls, hazmat incidents
- During training — Drills, exercises, certification courses
- At the fire station — Maintenance, equipment checks, station duties
- Traveling to/from calls — Responding to or returning from emergencies
- During official department activities — Parades, inspections, public education events
Injuries must be directly related to duties as a volunteer firefighter. Personal activities or injuries unrelated to firefighting service are not covered.
Common Firefighter Injuries
Firefighters face unique occupational hazards. Common injuries include burns and smoke inhalation, musculoskeletal injuries (back, knee, shoulder), fractures and traumatic injuries from falls or structural collapse, head injuries and concussions, and occupational illnesses including cancer, heart conditions, hearing loss, and respiratory diseases linked to firefighting exposure.
How Benefits Coordinate
Relief association injury benefits work alongside other coverage:
- Workers' compensation — State-mandated coverage for workplace injuries
- Personal health insurance — Your primary medical coverage
- Disability insurance — Private or group policies
- Social Security Disability — Federal disability benefits for qualifying conditions
We typically help cover expenses not paid by other programs — deductibles, waiting periods, co-pays, and gaps in coverage that would otherwise fall on the injured firefighter.
Requesting Injury Support
- Seek medical attention immediately and report the injury to fire company officers
- Contact a relief association officer as soon as possible
- Gather documentation: medical records, incident reports, medical bills, and work loss verification
- Officers will guide you through the request process and any required forms
- Benefits are processed with urgent needs expedited
All injury claims are handled confidentially. Only officers involved in the review process see personal and medical details.