Seward County firefighters receive over $159,000 from Kansas Department of Insurance

Topeka, Kan. – Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, today, announced, that
the Kansas Department of Insurance has made its annual distribution to local
Firefighter Relief Associations (FRAs). Pursuant to the Kansas Firefighters Relief Act,
$159,208.99 has been distributed among two local FRAs throughout Seward County.

“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 Commissioner 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.”

Other Fire Departments in Southwest Kansas receiving funds are:
Grant County $92,369.32
Haskell County $67,456.31
Meade County $42,785.43
Morton County $42,636.89
Stanton County $43,865.02
Stevens County $88,382.57

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
firetrucks, fire station building improvements, and firefighting gear can be purchased
via relief funds loaned to local governing entities.

This year’s statewide distributions totaled over $18.9 million, distributed to 553 FRAs.
The statewide distribution of the 2024 Kansas Firefighters Relief Act funds can be
viewed at insurance.ks.gov/otherservices/firefighters/fra-relief-distributions.php.
Kansans can learn more about the Firefighter Relief Act by visiting
insurance.kansas.gov/firefighters.