TOPEKA – Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt Monday announced, that the Kansas Insurance Department has made its annual distribution to local firefighter relief associations (FRAs). Pursuant to the Kansas Firefighters Relief Act, funds have been distributed to fire departments and fire districts FRAs through the area.
“Firefighters put their lives on the line to keep us safe, and the Kansas Firefighters Relief Act acknowledges that by providing additional protections for firefighters and their loved ones,” said Schmidt. “The Act not only gives first responders needed safety nets, but it also allows local communities to provide their citizens with improved firefighting equipment and resources.” The funds from the Kansas Firefighters Relief Act are generated by a two percent tax paid by insurance companies on fire and lightning insurance premiums written in Kansas. Associations primarily use their distributed funds for insurance premiums and safety enhancements. The relief funds may pay for the health, accident, disability, and life insurance premiums of local firefighters. Safety enhancements such as new fire trucks, fire station building improvements, and firefighting gear can be purchased via relief funds loaned to local governing entities.
Area firefighter relief organizations receiving funds include:
Barton – $143,522.88: Albert FRA: $5,589.31; Barton County Fire District 2 FRA: $17,144.30; Beaver Volunteer Fire FRA $3,165.19; Claflin FRA: $7,781.98; Ellinwood FRA: $15,948.60; Galatia FRA: $7,797.57; Great Bend FRA: $80,267.56; and Pawnee Rock FRA: $5,828.37.
Ellsworth – $38,418.49: Ellsworth FRA: $10,943.11; Holyrood FRA: $8,491.29; Kanopolis FRA: $9,807.58; and Wilson FRA: $9,176.51.
Pawnee – $33,907.19: Burdett FRA: $2,732.15; Garfield FRA: $3,138.43; and Larned FRA: $28,036.61.
Rice – $63,197.53: Bushton FRA: $2,315.02; Chase FRA: $2,919.19; Geneseo FRA: $1,854.00; Little River FRA: $2,702.90; Lyons FRA: $13,004.80; Rice County 1 FRA: $31,778.75; and terling FRA: $8,622.87.
Rush – $26,602.80: Lacrosse FRA: $8,384.22; Rush County 1 FRA: $4,436.21; Rush County 2 FRA: $3,139.45; Rush County 3 FRA: $2,478.87; Rush County 5 FRA: $1,888.59; Rush County 6 FRA: $1,888.40; Rush County 7 FRA: $2,314.21; and Rush County Fire Department 8 FRA: $2,072.85.
Russell – $59,601.29: Dorrance Fire District 4 FRA: $8,265.41; Gorham 1 FRA: $7,020.72; Lucas 2 FRA: $3,614.06; Russell County Fire District 5 FRA: $6,374.81; Russell FRA $20,288.68; Russell Grant Township FRA: $6,676.23; and Waldo-Paradise-Natoma 3 FRA: $7,361.38.
Stafford – $33,194.93: Macksville FRA: $2,898.04; St. John FRA: $5,033.06; Stafford County 1 FRA: $20,166.68; and Stafford FRA: $5,097.15.
