Program Descriptions

Operation: Fire Safe

International Fire Foundation: Disaster Relief Programs

The International Fire Foundation (IFF, FireGuide) offers a comprehensive suite of charitable programs designed to empower communities before, during, and after disasters. FireGuide is dedicated to fire safety education, consumer protection, and long-term recovery. Although FireGuide focuses on high-risk populations and the uninsured, underrepresented groups; recovery education and information is available for all community members, insured or uninsured. FireGuide offers all charitable program services to insured applicants, however, FireGuide priority will always be high risk populations.

Education and Information:

A core component of all IFF programs is the commitment to education and critical information sharing.  FireGuide has comprehensive fire recovery guides specifically for affected communities, which will outline:

Available Resources: the FireGuide Network has listed various charitable, community and nonprofit resources available to assist with recovery.

Immediate Disaster Relief: FireGuide will provide crucial steps to take immediately after a fire, such as contacting emergency services, connecting with local charity safety net programs, consumer protection, due diligence, and ensuring emergency relief resources are responsive.

Long-Term Recovery: FireGuide will address what to expect during the long-term recovery process, and provide caseworkers or volunteers specialized in recovery as step by step navigational guidance from the initial incident until the recovery is complete.

FireGuide's Role in Long Term Recovery:

1. Recovery Program

Focus: Assisting families and communities whose homes have sustained significant fire damage, making them uninhabitable.

Eligibility: Priority is given to high-risk populations and the uninsured, but all applications are reviewed.

All Recovery Program participants receive FireGuide comprehensive fire recovery education and information resources, regardless of insurance status. Recovery resources include insurance claim navigation, policy review, case management disaster preparedness tips, consumer protection, due diligence, claim or insurance troubleshooting, and long-term recovery guidance.

2. Upgrade Program:

Focus: Improving the safety and fire technology of existing homes, particularly for low-income families, seniors and high-risk populations.

Eligibility: Program details and eligibility requirements are available on the IFF website (Eligibility).

To allow homeowners address critical fire safety devices and upgrades, and installation of fire safety system or device improvements.

3. Community Connection Program:

Focus: Building strong and resilient communities through collaboration and support.

Services:

The International Fire Foundation connects affected communities and first responder agencies before, during and after disaster. Under the program, volunteer emergency response teams (ERTs) deploy to support affected communities during emergency incidents. ERTs deliver incident support, step by step recovery education, long term support, and necessary resources to heal affected communities after disaster.

Sponsorship of Charity, Fundraisers, and Events: FireGuide Community Connection Program provides support to local organizations, partners, and individuals hosting events aligned with the FireGuide mission. This support may include aid for events. FireGuide may act as the fiscal sponsor of an event if the organization mission and values align with the event's goals for first responders, agencies or other participating organizations.

First Responder Collaboration: FireGuide partners with local first responders as a community partner and fiscal sponsor for fundraising events that support fire safety and community well-being. This allows individuals and organizations to host events, provide full tax exemption to donors, without establishing their own non-profit infrastructure and access all public charity benefits.