WASHINGTON, DC and NOVATO, CA - Fire Corps and Fireman's Fund Insurance Company today announced that Fireman's Fund is the first corporation to offer employee support to fire departments across the country through Fire Corps. Fireman's Fund employees will assist with non-emergency roles in their communities, allowing firefighters to focus on acute-emergency tasks.

Fire Corps, a partner program of Citizen Corps, helps fire departments identify citizens across the country to handle activities such as administrative duties, fire safety education and other non-emergency projects. Fireman's Fund will work directly with Fire Corps to coordinate volunteer support by its employees and help identify new Fire Corps opportunities with fire departments across the country.

This partnership is the most recent extension of Fireman's Fund HeritageSM, Fireman's Fund's philanthropic program to support firefighters for safer communities. Since its inception last year, Fireman's Fund Heritage has awarded more than $3 million in grant funding to fire agencies across the United States.

Through a component of Fireman's Fund Heritage called the "Bucket Brigade," Fireman's Fund employees and employees of insurance agencies that carry Fireman's Fund products will participate in activities under Fire Corps' citizen advocacy program. Additionally, employees will contact fire departments located in their communities to help Fire Corps identify additional departments needing citizen support. This information will then be added to the Fire Corps database for use by Fireman's Fund employees as well as the general public. Thus, this partnership will expand opportunities for successfully matching fire service needs and citizen manpower.

The Need for Volunteer Support
First on the scene of any emergency, firefighters respond to natural disasters, accidents, medical emergencies and fires - despite increasingly limited resources. In addition to being on call for emergency response, fire departments are also responsible for day-to-day administration and fire-safety prevention education programs in their communities. Across the country, firefighters are being asked to do more with fewer resources.

"We are very excited to partner with Fireman's Fund in support of Fire Corps initiatives at fire departments and rescue squads throughout the United States," said Shawn Stokes, director of Fire Corps. "Citizens, such as Fireman's Fund employees, can add unique value to our nation's fire departments through their enthusiasm, work experience and ideas for improving programs."

Fire Corps established the citizen advocacy program in 2004. Fire Corps activities may include assisting fire department personnel with administrative duties, educating the public about fire safety and prevention and supporting community emergency response teams.

Fireman's Fund's Commitment to the Fire Service
Fireman's Fund Insurance Company has a long history of supporting the fire service. The company was founded in 1863 with a mission to donate a portion of its profits to widows and children of fallen firefighters. Last year, Fireman's Fund created Fireman's Fund Heritage, a national, community-based program in which Fireman's Fund and its network of independent agents provide needed equipment, fire prevention tools and firefighter training for local fire departments, as well as community fire safety education. In addition, Fireman's Fund Heritage also partners with national firefighting organizations to sponsor programs benefiting firefighters.

"Our collective volunteer efforts are just as important as the financial support we provide to the fire service," explained Darryl Siry, executive director of Fireman's Fund Heritage. "The time we spend working with fire departments allows them more time to accomplish the tasks for which we depend on them: fighting fires and saving lives. Fire Corps' mission is an ideal match for the goals we strive to accomplish with Fireman's Fund Heritage and the Bucket Brigade."

About Fire Corps
As a program partner of the Department of Homeland Security's grass-roots initiative Citizen Corps, Fire Corps works through local Citizen Corps Councils to promote opportunities for citizens to assist their local fire and EMS departments. Fire Corps serves as a gateway to information for and about fire department programs and meets a citizen's desire to serve, as well as a department's need for support.

Fire Corps is coordinated nationally by the International Association of Fire Chiefs' Volunteer
Combination Officers Section, the International Association of Fire Fighters, the National Volunteer Fire Council, and the Department of Homeland Security's US Fire Administration and Office of State and Local Government Preparedness and Coordination. Please visit www.firecorps.org to learn more about Fire Corps.

About Fireman's Fund
Fireman's Fund Insurance Company is a premier property and casualty insurance company providing personal, commercial and specialty insurance products nationwide. Fireman's Fund is a member of the Allianz Group, one of the world's largest providers of property and casualty insurance and other financial services. For more information about either the company or Fireman's Fund Heritage, visit www.firemansfund.com.

Contacts:
Shawn P. Stokes
Fire Corps
(202) 887-4809

Danielle Cagan
Fireman's Fund
(415) 899-2802

Jen Reinhard
Ketchum
(415) 984-6179

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