What Insurance Companies Can Offer the Fire Service

(Appeared in print as "Insure Your Success")

The Lisle-Woodridge (Ill.) Fire District is installing the Stryker loading system in each of its ambulances. The paramedics demonstrating the system explained to me that their insurance company, the Illinois Public Risk Fund (IPRF), paid for the system to help reduce the risk of back injuries.

The IPRF provides cost-effective alternatives to escalating workers’ compensation premiums and related costs. It is the state’s largest self-insured risk pool for workers’ compensation coverage and serves more than 185 fire districts.

Eight years ago, IPRF started a grant program that  offers matching funds for fire-department equipment or programs. For example, a fire department can receive 50% off the cost of ambulance loaders, which can cost $28,000. Last year, IPRF created a similar matching-funds program called Helping Hands for use with training programs, such as the Blue Card program. And recently, it started a preferred-vendor program that offers up to 50% off on select safety equipment.

Investing in loss control and safety equipment is a worthwhile endeavor, according to IPRF Chairman Tom English. The fund tries to prevent leading compensation losses  — back injuries. “A back injury can cost anywhere from $200,000 to $400,000,” he said.

Another insurance company with a long history of supporting the fire service is the Volunteer Firemen’s Insurance Services, or VFIS, which provides insurance, education and training to fire departments, ambulance and rescue squads, and 911 centers. VFIS offers more than 60 resources, including training programs, self-assessment tools, audio-visual programs, a series of 29 posters, and 20 online training programs to help clients manage their risks and keep up with training and new techniques. VFIS also is actively involved with most major fire-service organizations.

Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. eight years ago introduced the Heritage Program, which provides grants for much-needed equipment, training and community-educational programs. The company has awarded $29 million in grants to more than 1,800 fire departments across the nation. In addition, member agencies and employees volunteer their expertise and time to support their local fire departments.  

Provident Agency worked with the fire service in western Pennsylvania until the 1980s, when it expanded coverage for volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders. It was one of the first insurance agencies to offer firefighters cardiovascular coverage — 50years ago — and later coverage for infectious hepatitis and AIDS. Provident President Barry Balliet is very active with national organizations like the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, and the company sponsors the VCOS John Buckman Leadership Award.

Finding the right insurance company for your department is one piece of the puzzle; the right insurance company for your community also is important. For example, the Chartis insurance company is offering homeowners in the West the services of a “wildfire-mitigation specialist.” According to an article in Fortune, a trained firefighter will apply flame retardant to high-end homes in wildfire-prone areas. The service is offered to 30,000 homeowners, each of whom who may pay up to $20,000 a year for their policies. Chartis employs 17 people who monitor fire alerts, wind and weather. Chartis lost 17 homes to California fires in 2007, but none since introducing the program.

In these economic times, it makes sense to take a closer look at the resources that insurance companies can offer to fire departments. It not only can help reduce claims and injuries, but it also can help save firefighters lives, prevent injuries and better serve communities.