Fireman's Relief Fund Board
The Firefighters' Relief Fund (FRF) benefit (General Statutes 58-84-1 through 58-84-60 ) was passed into Legislation in 1907. Its purpose was to financially assist firefighters that may have been injured while volunteering their service to their community. This is funded by a percentage of the tax paid on property coverage pursuant to G.S 105-228.5.
A Board of Trustees Report, which provides the names of the local Firefighters' Relief Fund board, must be submitted to the Department of Insurance electronically. A request is sent to the Finance Officer/Clerk of each county or municipality on or before the first business day following August 15th each year. Additionally, the entry of this report may be delegated to the Fire Department by the county or municipality.
A local Firefighters' Relief Fund Board of Trustee's shall be elected/appointed to control the local funds. The Firefighters' Relief Fund Board of Trustee's is comprised of five (5) people: two shall be elected by the fire department and shall either be a resident of the fire district or an active or retired member of the fire department; two shall be elected by the City/or County governing body, and members appointed pursuant to this section shall be residents of the fire district; and one shall be appointed by the Insurance Commissioner. The member appointed pursuant to this section shall be either a resident of the fire district or an active or retired member of the fire department. One of the local relief fund board members will be chosen to serve as the Firefighters' Relief Fund Treasurer. The state provides a bond to cover Treasurers of local Firefighters' Relief Funds. A board member's term shall be as follows: the fire department and City/County Commissioners shall hold an election each January to elect their representatives to the board. One member will serve for two years and one member will serve for one year. Thereafter, each year in January they shall elect only one member, and his term of office shall be for two years. The Commissioner of Insurance appointee shall serve at the pleasure of the Insurance Commissioner.
The FRF general statutes remained virtually unchanged until the 1950's. Worker's compensation benefits became prevalent, and as a result, local fund balances increased. Many municipal fire departments began to realize their fund balances were becoming substantial. Local bills began to be introduced into the General Assembly to allow a portion of local fund balances to be used for supplemental retirement for local firefighters. A portion of the fund balance remained intact to provide financial aid to a firefighter or his family if injured or killed in line of duty and to safeguard any firefighter that had honorably served for five (5) years from becoming destitute.
In 2014, The General Assembly amended G.S. 58-84-35 to allow additional expenditures to local funds. Funds may be used to provide benefits for NCSFA member line of duty death or injury, member destitution, approved supplemental retirement payments, NC Fire and Rescue Pension Fund Premiums, Supplemental Insurance Premiums, Worker's Compensation Insurance Premiums, Firefighter Physicals (OSHA or NFPA), and Supplemental Education Benefits and Scholarships. Any additional questions regarding use of these funds should be directed to the North Carolina State Firemen's Association. No expenditures shall be made to the local relief fund unless NCSFA determines that such expenditures will not render the Fund financially unsound for the purposes of providing the benefits set forth by the G.S. 58-84-35.
The Fireman's Relief Fund Board only meets when a need arises. Below is the current Membership Directory:
Membership Directory