Burbank residents and firefighters will be safer thanks to another grant awarded by DeWitt Stern and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. The $15,000 grant allows the Burbank Fire Department to purchase new radios, enabling firefighters to better communicate with each other – and with other responding agencies – at the scene of an emergency.
When firefighters can clearly articulate instructions and commands, the community is better served. In addition, this grant helps improve firefighter safety, as poor communication is one of the leading causes of firefighter injuries and deaths.
Burbank Fire Department officials, firefighters, and executives from DeWitt Stern and Fireman’s Fund will come together for a special public event where the grant will be presented and the equipment will be demonstrated:
The grant is part of a nationwide philanthropic program funded by Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. This year, Fireman’s Fund celebrates its 150th anniversary. Founded in 1863 with a social mission to support the fire service, Fireman’s Fund today awards grants to fire service organizations for life-saving equipment, firefighter training and community education programs. Since 2004, Fireman’s Fund has awarded grants to more than 1,900 different organizations totaling more than $30 million – including more than $8.5 million in California. The Burbank Fire Department has received more than $400,000 through this grant program, which is more than any other fire department on the West Coast.
Independent insurance agencies and brokers that sell Fireman’s Fund products, like DeWitt Stern, are able to direct these grants to support the fire service. Through this program, DeWitt Stern has directed over $800,000 in grants to fire departments nationwide – including $257,000 to Burbank Fire.
“This generous grant from Fireman’s Fund and DeWitt Stern supports my top priorities of enhancing the safety of our firefighters and our community,” said Burbank Fire Chief Tom Lenahan. “We couldn’t be more thankful for all of the support we’ve received from Fireman’s Fund and its independent agencies such as DeWitt Stern. In fact, one of the grants we previously received funded a simulator that teaches firefighters to recognize the signs of a possible flashover – and the training has been credited with saving several firefighters from this dangerous scenario caused by a room superheating to its ignition point.”
“We are honored to support the fire service and the communities they serve in partnership with Fireman’s Fund,” said John Hamby, managing director of Dewitt Stern of California Insurance Services. “Giving back to the community is an important value that we share.”
“Supporting firefighters for safer communities was one the founding principles of Fireman’s Fund back in 1863,” adds Andrew Torrance, president and chief executive officer of Fireman’s Fund. “As we celebrate our 150th anniversary, we must not only reflect on the company’s many accomplishments, but we must look to the future and how we support the challenges faced by firefighters today. This grant does just that.”
