Kansas Department of Insurance gives $2.5M to Sedgwick County firefighters

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Kansas Department of Insurance has made its annual distribution to the Firefighter Relief Association, and over $2.5 million is going to Sedgwick County firefighters.

A news release from the KDOI said the funds are generated by a 2% 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 release reads. “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.”

There are eight FRAs in Sedgwick County that received funding:

• Cheney – $18,943.08
• Clearwater – $15,870.99
• Colwich – $23,400.01
• Derby – $119,717.63
• Mount Hope – $5,865.35
• Sedgwick County – $470,406.25
• Valley Center – $33,666.08
• Wichita – $1,826,273.63

In total, the KDOI disbursed a total of over $18.9 million to 553 FRAs, the news release said.

In 2023, Sedgwick County received over $2.2 million, and in total, KDOI dispersed nearly $16.9 million.

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