Riley County firefighters receive $500,000 from state insurance department

The Kansas Department of Insurance on Thursday announced the granting of more than $500,000 to support firefighters in Riley County.

Under the Kansas Firefighters Relief Act, three Riley County-based Firefighter Relief Associations will receive just over $525,000 of the $18.9 million distributed statewide this year.

“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 Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt in a written statement. “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 come from a 2% tax insurance companies pay on fire and lightning premiums 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 qualify for purchase with the relief funds loaned to local governing entities.