Public Agency Support

Emergency Scene Support: Partnering with Public Agencies

At IFF, our commitment to community resilience extends to providing vital support for the brave men and women of our fire departments, law enforcement, and other public agencies. IFF understands that in the chaos of an emergency, first responders are focused on the immediate threat; it is hard for a commanding officer to juggle the short, mid and long term assistance that will be required for the affected community. IFF takes the weight of individual, family and community needs of command's shoulders, in order for command to be focused on the life safety, rescue and immediate actions that take priority. IFF's role is to provide a seamless layer of support for first responders and our communities affected by disaster. Click here to register your Fire, Police or Public Agency with the International Fire Foundation.

On-Scene Incident Support

IFF volunteers deploy immediately to provide essential support for first responders and affected communities. The goal is to ensure command, first responders, and public agencies have everything necessary to focus on life safety and mitigating the incident hazards without delay or hesitation.

Affected Community Support

IFF volunteers, often members of the local affected community, provide critical assistance on the scene of an emergency. Extending requested support to crews, affected community members, and public agencies partners through a variety of vital functions:

• Triage and Needs Assessment: Volunteers take on the responsibility of assessing and prioritizing the needs of individuals, families, and the community. Freeing up command staff to focus on the immediate threats and necessary mitigation actions.

• Resource Coordination: IFF officers coordinate with Command, or order community partner resources such as the Red Cross for short term financial assistance and medication replacement, the Humane Society for animal care, and other support services (TIPs) when emergency command is focused with life-safety efforts.

• Rehabilitation and Logistics: IFF provides rehabilitation and logistical support for crews on scene. Upon request, IFF provides necessary supplies and support to maintain operational success.

  • While the specific needs of an agency may not always require on-scene support, rehabilitation, or logistics, the availability of IFF resources allow incident commanders to redirect their entire focus to the incident response and necessary life safety actions. By handling these crucial support tasks, IFF ensures affected communities receive the resources necessary for short, mid and long term recovery; allowing first responders to focus on mission critical, incident actions.

Extending the Standard of Care

When fire and police crews must return to service, IFF volunteers are already on the scene to ensure affected community members are not left unprotected. IFF provides continuous support from the initial incident through to long-term recovery. IFF's mission is to protect, educate, and provide vital information throughout the entire recovery process. Volunteer Emergency Response Teams ensure that the standard of care for residents does not end when first responders leave.

Closed-Loop Communication

IFF acts as a central hub for communication between affected families and our public agency partners. We provide continuous updates on a family's status and recovery, including initial actions taken and the non-profit partners they have been matched with. Likewise, if fire or police departments have specific non-profit referrals, we ensure effective, immediate, and closed-loop communication between all parties, guaranteeing that a family's needs are met.

Education and Preparedness

We are always available to provide education on the long-term recovery process. Our goal is to ensure that fire and police departments fully understand the common challenges that affected communities face. This proactive knowledge helps mitigate anticipated threats and fosters a deeper understanding between first responders and the communities they protect.

Tailored Support and Fundraisers

IFF offers flexible support programs designed to meet the unique needs of public agency partners.

• Fundraiser Campaigns: Upon request, IFF launches fundraiser campaigns for affected communities, families and individuals. The campaigns are primarily focused on high risk populations, fatalities, and circumstances with extreme financial risk or burden. Public agencies can request to support their local affected communities by forming teams to collectively support the long term recovery as a department or station.

• Event Support: IFF is a registered 501(c)3 charity. For departments that do not have a registered charity organization like a fire foundation, police union, or the correct charity status/registration to receive donations or gifts; IFF becomes a fiscal sponsor to provide access to our registered charitable status and software, which simplifies the donation process for individuals and patrons who wish to support their local fire, police, or public department's events, missions, and values. IFF consistently supports local golf, paddle ball and pancake breakfast charity events. There are no fees or costs associated with utilization of IFF fiscal status or software for public agency partners.

• Department-Specific Support: Employees and the general public can become IFF members, voluntarily donating small monthly contributions. Before, during and after disaster, the funds become immediately accessible to support first responders suffering from sickness, disease or department-specific needs like life saving equipment. If you require a public or community specific fund for your city, place a request into IFF to set up a dedicated recovery fund for your department, city or region. Contact an IFF representative about employer matching campaigns.

If the department, partner or public agency requires assistance beyond the existing charitable programs; IFF will make a considerable effort to fulfill the request to satisfy the mission to support all community and first responder agencies. Click here to register your Fire, Police or Public Agency with the International Fire Foundation.

Emergency Response Team Deployments:

Volunteer Emergency Response Teams (ERTs) are a division under the Community Connect Charitable Program within IFF. ERTs are deployed to all active and recent incidents as requested by local first responder partners and public agency notification. ERTs provide free:

• Incident Support

• Community Assistance

• Damage Evaluation and Prevention

• Long Term Recovery Education

• 501(c)3 Fundraiser Setup and Management

• IFF Trusted Partner Network Referrals

Sponsorship of Charity, Fundraisers, Events:

The Community Connection program is built to support local organizations, partners, local community leaders, and/or victims, families, and first responders in affected areas.

The applications for charity, fundraisers and events will have requests from various applicants, the organization will review the request, approve in full, part or deny the request based on the type of event, amount requested and charity in question alignment with the IFF mission and values. The sponsorship will cover the startup costs to host the event, and shall be recovered by the requesting organization through the funds raised if possible. Any funds beyond the start up costs returned to IFF may be donated to a charity of choice, support a local affected community, first responder or public agency as identified and agreed upon by the applicant and IFF. The applicant may voluntarily donate additional funds to the International Fire Foundation to support future charity, fundraisers and events or IFF programs in their community.

The International Fire Foundation may choose to engage or be requested as the fiscal sponsor of the event if IFF mission and values align with the event activities.

First Responder Collaboration

The International Fire Foundation can be a local community partner to support community events. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, IFF offers fiscal sponsorship for fundraising events that align with IFF mission and values. Applicants may host charity events or accept donations without the burden of establishing your own non-profit organization or separate fire foundation and reap all the benefits of tax exemption for supporting patrons. Typically, charity events with full tax exemption receive double the amount of support than an event without a fiscal sponsor. Work with your local  International Fire Foundation community officer or organize your own event – either way, event supporters will enjoy the tax benefits of contributing to a registered non-profit and supporting the event. There are no fees or costs associated with utilized IFF fiscal status or software. Together, let's build a stronger, safer community!

City/County Partnerships

The City or County of an affected area may engage with the International Fire Foundation to support emergency response agencies to eliminate public hazards after disaster strikes to limit risk and liability for the city, and decrease injury for the affected community. Incorporated or unincorporated areas may engage in monthly or annual contributions to mitigate emergency hazards within their jurisdiction.

Fiscal Sponsorship:

Partners within the IFF Network may apply for fiscal sponsorship to receive grant funding for disaster projects in their affected community. Partners may host events with IFF sponsorship. Partnering with IFF, nor sponsorship of events is required or considered in any way as an influence over IFF Charitable Programs. 

IFF provides fiscal sponsorship to public agencies, fire and law enforcement organizations as a public benefit in the event the correct charitable structure is not properly established prior to community events or activities. Application for IFF fiscal sponsorship as a public agency does not guarantee service or approval.

IFF reserves the right to authorize or decline any application based on the alignment of the program, event or organization with IFF mission and values.

Community

Connection

Not all branches of IFF operate Emergency Response Team (ERT) forces. The Community Connection Program ERT is available in areas with a current volunteer base.

Remote case management and long-term recovery education are available to all affected communities regardless of circumstance. These services are provided at all times, ensuring every community can access vital support.

Not all IFF branches have adopted the ERT pilot program. ERT programs are most effective in person, where volunteers can support incidents in real time and help affected communities begin the healing process. To determine if ERT is available for your department or to inquire about starting one, please contact your local IFF representative.

Emergency Recovery Team Pilot Program Availability