Wildland Firefighter Foundation

Fire Foundation

The Wildland Firefighter Foundation’s primary focus is to help families of firefighters killed in the line of duty and to assist injured firefighters and their families. Wildland Firefighter Foundation honors and acknowledges past, present, and future members of the wildland firefighting community, and partner with private and interagency organizations to bring recognition to wildland firefighters.

The Wildland Firefighter Foundation is the original organization to provide help to the families of those wildland firefighters who have lost their lives or injured in the line of duty. Families left behind, many with young children, often find themselves with few resources, and the Foundation steps in to help. The Foundation came together as a group of volunteers in 1994, shortly after the Storm King tragedy and in the spring of 1999, The Wildland Firefighter Foundation was officially established. With dedication and a lot of volunteer work, plans were developed for a national monument to honor firefighters, a dream that was realized in May 2000. The Foundation's board members realized that there was a great need to have emergency support services for the families of fallen firefighters.

There are many ways to get involved with The Wildland Firefighter Foundation, joining the 52 Club is your “Power of One” opportunity. Individuals support this Foundation, so there is no government funding – because hundreds of you choose to help each other. The foundation serves as the funnel of the Wildland community to the families of firefighters who are seriously injured or killed in the line of duty.

A BUCK A WEEK TO HELP A BUDDY. IT’S THAT EASY. BE A PART OF THE “COMPASSION THAT SPREADS LIKE WILDFIRE.”

Every summer we hear the news that makes us heartsick: Wildland Firefighters die in the line of duty. They are killed in burnovers, vehicle accidents, helicopters, tanker crashes, and heart attacks. Their lives touch many family members, friends, and co-workers. Survivors are left to struggle with incomprehensible loss and the financial burden that comes from fatalities and injuries.

Who will help them after their firefighter has paid the ultimate price? The light at the end of that tunnel is the Wildland Firefighter Foundation. It takes your help to keep doing this good work. Since the Foundation was established, we have given away more than 1.5 million dollars in emergency grants to injured firefighters and families of fallen firefighters.

"It is our greatest honor to serve wildland firefighters. They are a wonderful group of people and we are grateful for all that they do for our country!"

- Dina Pfeifer, Operations Manager