Firefighters Relief Fund

Who is responsible to return the Board of Trustees Report (BTR) to the NC State Firefighters' Association?

The fire chief of any city, county, or sanitary district must file the Board of Trustees report on or before October 31 of each year.

The fire department has been informed of its disqualification to receive the relief fund monies due to the Board of Trustees report not being filed. Can the fire department recoup these monies?

Yes. The Firefighters' Relief Fund Board of Trustees can request for the city, county, or sanitary district commissioner(s) to reimburse the department from city, county, or sanitary district funds.

The fire department serves two (2) fire districts (municipal and rural). Is the department required to join the NC State Firefighters' Association (NCSFA) twice and submit all required forms in duplicate?

1A) If the fire department is solely operated by either the town or a Board of Directors and serves two (2) fire districts, it is only required to meet the General Statute requirements once: by joining the NCSFA once and submitting required forms once.

1B) Yes, if the fire department is operated by two (2) separate entities sharing one location. Both departments must join the NCSFA and each must submit required forms.  

If a fire department member becomes seriously ill (not fire related), can the local fund assist financially?

Yes. The local fund can purchase "other" insurance protection, which may be considered an alternative for such situations. The release of funds for this purpose must be approved by the local board and NC State Firefighters' Association.

Does our local Firefighters' Relief Fund Board have entire control of local funds?

No. Fund expenditures must be approved by the NC State Firefighters' Association and be in compliance with General Statute (58-84-35).

Can Firefighters' Relief Fund monies be used to supplement our fire department budget or purchase equipment?

No. These funds must be kept in a separate account and used only for its intended purposes.

NC G.S. 58-84-46

Each city or county fire chief with a local board of trustees (under G.S. 58-84-30) must file a Board of Trustees Report (also known as a "certificate of eligibility") with the NC State Firefighters' Association (NCSFA). If a Board of Trustees Report is not filed with NCSFA on or before January 31 of the following year:

• The Local Firefighters' Relief Fund for that fire department will forfeit the payment next due to the Fund's board of trustees.
• The State Firefighters' Association will inform the Insurance Commissioner of any Firefighters' Relief Funds that have not filed the certificate of eligibility. The Insurance Commissioner will pay any amounts due to those local Funds to the State Firefighters' Association treasurer.
• Any forfeited payments will be included as a part of the Statewide Firefighters' Relief Fund.

The Firefighters' Relief Fund benefit is administered through the following organizations:

North Carolina Department of Insurance
Office of State Fire Marshal
Grants & Relief Funds
1202 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1202

and

North Carolina State Firefighters' Association
Tim Bradley, Executive Director
323 W. Jones Street
Suite 401
Raleigh, NC 27603

The North Carolina General Assembly revised NC General Statute 58-84-35 to allow local Firefighters' Relief Fund boards to use funds for the following:

• Educational benefits
• Supplemental retirement
• Purchase other insurance and pension protection

Once the local board approves any expenditures, the NC State Firefighters' Association must also approve them, to ensure the fund remains financially sound for the original intent.

For questions regarding the use of relief fund monies, please contact the NC State Firefighters' Association.