The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. announced a new grant program to provide fire departments with thermal imaging cameras and other needed equipment.

More than $100,000 is available in the first phase of the "Into the Fire" grant program. The allotment comes from initial DVD sales, T-shirt sales, screening events and other fund-raising related to the Into the Fire documentary.

"Approximately 100 firefighters die in the line of duty each year," said Ron Siarnicki, executive director of the NFFF. "The ‘Into the Fire' grant program will help put critical equipment like thermal imaging cameras in the hands of firefighters across the country – directly improving safety and helping to reduce line-of-duty deaths."

Proposals are being accepted through May 31 at www.firehero.org. Additional application periods are expected in the future as the fund grows.

Fireman's Fund conceptualized and financed Into the Fire, an emotionally charged film featuring firefighters from across the country telling their entertaining and sometimes tragic stories.

The documentary DVD can be purchased at www.firemansfund.com/heritage. Fireman's Fund donates $7 from each sale to the fire service. Purchasers may elect to direct a portion of this amount ($5) to their local fire department via a drop-down menu organized by ZIP code. The remaining $2, or all $7 if no fire department designation is made, goes to the grant fund.

"NFFF shares our commitment to providing firefighters with the equipment they need to do their jobs safely and efficiently," said Danielle Cagan, community-relations director at Fireman's Fund.

Through the Fireman's Fund Heritage program, Fireman's Fund already has awarded more than $1 million for the purchase of 100 thermal-imaging cameras. Fireman's Fund recently joined with Bullard, a thermal-imaging camera manufacturer, to help maximize its grant program. As part of the arrangement, special pricing for Bullard thermal imagers is available to Fireman's Fund.

"This allows Fireman's Fund to award more thermal imaging cameras to more fire departments," said Cagan. "For every four thermal imagers we were able to provide in the past, we can now provide five."

Three Bullard models are included in the arrangement: the T3XT, T3Max and T4. All models purchased with a Fireman's Fund grant come in a white casing and bear the Fireman's Fund logo with its trademark fire helmet.