|
Division of State Fire Marshal
As much as would like to never have
anyone need this resource, we know it
can only help to have it available. When
we, in Florida, have a Line-of-Duty
Death, we often are contacted regarding
resources and processes. Contained
herein, we are providing guidance and
links to help in dealing with an
occurrence that we want to never happen.
STATE OF FLORIDA LINE-OF-DUTY
DEATH RESOURCES
State Death Benefit
The State of Florida Death Benefit for
Firefighters is governed under
Florida
Statute 112.191 and
Florida
Administrative Code 69A-64. There are
three levels of benefits based upon the
circumstances leading to the death. This
benefit may be available to both Career
and Volunteer Firefighters. This benefit
is paid in addition to any worker's
compensation or pension benefits.
Contact:
Assistant Director
Division of State Fire Marshal
Department of Financial Services
200 East Gaines Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0340
(850) 413-3607
State Workers' Compensation
Benefit and Funeral Benefit
The Workers' Compensation Benefit
may be available to either Career or
Volunteer Firefighters. The definition
of employment includes firefighters
responding to or assisting with fire or
medical emergencies whether or not the
firefighters are on duty. The Workers'
Compensation "acting within the course
of employment" is located within
Florida Statute 440.091, and the
Workers' Compensation "for death" is
located within
Florida Statute 440.16.
Contact:
Division of Workers Compensation
Department of Financial Services
200 East Gaines Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-4228
(800) 742-2214 or (850) 413-1610
Educational Benefits
Certain educational benefits may be
available to the surviving spouse and
children. Information on these benefits
are contained in Sections (3) and (4) of
Florida Statute 112.191. These
benefits are also addressed in the
Florida Administrative Code (FAC),
within the Department of Education's
Rules, under
FAC 6C-7.008 and
FAC 6C2-2.02414.
Contact:
Office of the Commissioner
Department of Education
Turlington Building, Suite 1514
325 West Gaines Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
(850) 245-0505
Retirement or Pension Plan
Benefits
Most Career and Volunteer State,
Municipal, and Special District
Firefighters are covered under the
Firefighters Pension Trust Fund. The
contact information for the MPOFRTF is
provided below. However, some Florida
jurisdictions have independent and/or
supplementary plans or annuities for
their Firefighters, and for these you
would have to contact the local
authorities. Firefighter pension
beneficiaries are covered in
Florida Statute 175.181, and death
benefits prior to retirement are covered
in
Florida Statute 175.201. The rule information
about pension beneficiaries is
located in
FAC Chapter 60S-4 Benefits, and the
Benefits Payable Upon Death are
specifically located in
FAC 60S-4.008.
Contact:
Municipal Police Officers' and
Firefighters Retirement Trust Funds
Office
Division of Retirement
P. O. Box 3010
Tallahassee, Florida 32315-3010
(850) 922-0667
FEDERAL LINE-OF-DUTY DEATH
RESOURCES
SPECIALIZED RESOURCES
Autopsy Guide
Firefighter Autopsy Protocol,
United States Fire Administration, 1991
Contact:
United State Fire Administration
USFA Publications Center
16825 South Seton Avenue
Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727
(800) 561-3356
Funeral Guides
Chaplain's Manual: Fire Department
Funerals, Federation of Fire
Chaplains, 1994
Contact:
Federation of Fire Chaplains
Route 1, Box 155B
Clifton, Texas 76634
(254) 622-8514
chapdir1@aol.com
Funeral Procedures for Firefighters,
National Volunteer Fire Council, 1991
Contact:
National Volunteer Fire Council
1050 17th Street, NW, Suite 490
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 737-8484 or (888) ASK-NVFC
nvfcoffice@nvfc.org
IAFF Recommended Protocol for
Line-of-Duty Deaths
The IAFF will provide
this protocol at the request of the IAFF
District Vice President or
local IAFF affiliates.
Contact:
IAFF
1750 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 737-8484
www.iaff.org
A Labor of Love, How to Write a
Eulogy, Garry Schaeffer
This book offers tips on
what to say and provides samples.
Contact:
GMS Publishing
10250 Caminito Cuervo • Suite 23
San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 584-1846
or:
www.eulogybook.net
(800) 479-7487
Investigation Guide
Guide for Investigation of a Line of
Duty Death, International
Association of Fire Chiefs
Contact:
International Association of Fire Chiefs
4025 Fair Ridge Drive
Fairfax, Virginia 22033-2868
(703) 273-0911
publications@iafc.org
Honor Guard
The Florida Fire Service Honor Guard
Association (The Honor Guard Section of
the Florida Fire Chiefs' Association)
can provide information, a unified
communication network, leadership,
training, and education in presentations
and protocols.
Contact:
Florida Fire Chiefs' Association
880 Airport Road, Suite 110
Ormond Beach, Florida 32174
(386) 676-2744
info@ffca.org
LODD Investigations
All Line of Duty Deaths in Florida
must be investigated by the State Fire
Marshal. Please notify the agency below
immediately:
Division of State Fire Marshal
Bureau of Fire Standards and Training
Safety Program Section
11655 NW Gainesville Road
Ocala, Florida 34482
(352) 369-2836
After normal business hours, the
State Fire Marshal can be reached at
(800) NET-FIRE
or through the State
Warning Point at (800) 320-0519.
If you have experienced a
Line-of-Duty Death and you need
assistance, contact the Safety Program
Office of the Bureau of Fire Standards
and Training at (352) 369-2836. We will
provide assistance and we also have a
publication called "For Those Who Gave
So Much", by Dwaine E. Booth, that you
may find helpful.
|
