Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. launched a new program in August 2004 to provide fire agencies in Metropolitan Atlanta with $500,000 in funding and equipment donations.

Fireman’s Fund Heritage program will provide:

• 16 thermal-imaging cameras to equip the City of Atlanta with the technology.
• Grants totaling $305,000 to 16 paid and volunteer fire departments in the Metro Atlanta area. for equipment, public education, fire prevention and firefighter training.
• An alliance with the state of Georgia Fire Marshal’s Office to provide public education tools in the area.
  

FFIC President and Chief Executive Officer Chuck Kavitsky and local executives presented the grant checks to senior fire officials from the region in a ceremony Aug. 4 at the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum.

“Thanks to the Fireman’s Fund, every ladder company and rescue squad within the department will have a thermal imaging camera,” said Atlanta Fire Chief Dennis L. Rubin.

FFIC invited fire departments from 14 counties in the Metro Atlanta area to submit grant proposals through a request for proposals in June. An employee task force evaluated the proposals and an advisory committee of fire chiefs from the surrounding region provided technical advice to the task force.

The task force received 23 proposals totaling more than $800,000 in requests.

As part of its alliance with the state fire marshal’s office, FFIC is providing a mobile fire safety house and towing vehicle to supplement existing public education activities.