FIIRE Program participation

The FIIRE Program year runs from January 1 through December 31 annually, and sign up happens in the fall.

Receive email notifications about the FIIRE program.

New Departments

Enrollment Process

To participate in the FIIRE program, complete all three documents below and submit them to FIIRE@Lni.wa.gov.

Application

The application gives the FIIRE team all pertinent information regarding the fire department such as the fire department address, contact information, and workers’ compensation account number.

The application is completed and signed by a fire department authorized signatory and management contact.

Letter of Intent

The letter of intent acknowledges the fire department's commitment and their understanding of the roles and responsibilities of participating in the FIIRE program.

The Letter of Intent is signed by the department’s fire chief, designated union official, and jurisdictional authority (if applicable).

Memorandum of Participation (MoP)

The Memorandum of Participation informs fire departments of the requirements they must complete throughout the program year to ensure they remain eligible for the incentive (10% workers compensation discount).

The Memorandum of Participation is completed and signed by the department’s authorized representative from the employer (if applicable), authorized representative from the fire department, and designated union official.

Requirements

Vulnerability Assessment Survey

  • Assess the Fire Department's safety and health programs using the Vulnerability Assessment Program (VAP) survey results.
  • Share the VAP results with Union Representative and Jurisdictional Authority.
  • Refine their Accident Prevention Program (APP) and other policies and procedures based on VAP results (if applicable).

Risk Management Training

  • Complete a risk management training with a FIIRE staff member. This training includes identifying and prioritizing hazards for your fire department, identifying solutions, and evaluating the effectiveness of proposed solutions.
  • Departments will also be taught how to complete the Safety Improvement Plan (SIP).

 Safety Improvement Plan

  • Develop and implement a tailored Safety Improvement Plan (SIP) that integrates self-assessment results, risk management training, and safety and health best practices to address carcinogen exposures and musculoskeletal disorders such as those related to patient transport and equipment handling.
  • Actively monitor and adjust the SIP for effectiveness.

Firefighter Health and Safety Collaborative (FFHSC)

  • Participate in the two, online, Firefighter Health and Safety Collaborative meetings:
    • Second Monday in January;
    • First Monday in April.

Benchmark Reports

  • Submit three Benchmark reports that captures your progress and helps identify where additional support from the FIIRE team may be needed.

Ongoing Activities (Not Requirements)

Strengthen Safety Committee

  • Strengthen safety committees by participating in L&I provided proactive risk management training to improve the ways in which hazards are assessed and mitigated.
  • Optimize safety committee activities based on training, including applying proactive risk management principles to hazard identification, incident investigations, and injury/near-miss reporting.

Early Return to Work Programs

  • Develop plans to incorporate Early Return to Work, including consideration of the Stay at Work incentive program, to improve outcomes for injured fire fighters and mitigate time-loss costs to the department (if applicable).

Review Workers’ Compensation Costs

  • Identify trends in your department’s claims such as recurring injury types and use claim data to guide workplace modifications with help available from L&I Risk Managers and other consultants.

Other

Re-enrollment

  • Re-enrollment occurs annually from mid-September to mid-December.
  • Departments that wish to continue in the program at the conclusion of the first year of participation must submit a newly signed Memorandum of Participation annually.
  • Go to the “Continuing Departments” section to find the Memorandum of Participation (MoP) for your next program year.

Withdrawal

  • Decision to withdraw from the FIIRE Program:
    • Submit letter declining participation, including information on the basis for decision and signature of the person from the department who is requesting to withdrawal from the into the program.
Continuing Departments

Enrollment Process

Departments that wish to continue in the program at the conclusion of the first year of participation must submit a newly signed Memorandum of Participation annually to FIIRE@Lni.wa.gov.

Memorandum of Participation (MoP)

The Memorandum of Participation is designed to inform fire departments of the requirements they must complete throughout the program year to ensure they remain eligible for the incentive (10% workers compensation discount).

Submit a Memorandum of Participation completed and signed by the department’s authorized representative from the employer (if applicable), authorized representative from the fire department, and designated union official.

Requirements

On-Site Annual Progress Visit

Fire departments in their 2nd to 4th year of the program are required to complete a progress site visit.

The on-site visit is designed to offer assistance to help departments implement and complete program requirements, provide an opportunity for departments to ask questions, and review how grant purchases are being implemented and/or confirm whether they’re being used.

Safety Improvement Plan

  • Develop and implement a tailored Safety Improvement Plan (SIP) that integrates self-assessment results, risk management training, and safety and health best practices to address carcinogen exposures and musculoskeletal disorders such as those related to patient transport and equipment handling.
  • Actively monitor and adjust the SIP for effectiveness.

Firefighter Health and Safety Collaborative

  • Participate in the two, online, Firefighter Health and Safety Collaborative meetings:
    • Second Monday in January;
    • First Monday in April.

Benchmark Reports

  • Submit three Benchmark reports that captures your progress and helps identify where additional support from the FIIRE team may be needed.

Ongoing Activities (Not Requirements)

Strengthen Safety Committee

  • Strengthen safety committees by participating in L&I provided proactive risk management training to improve the ways in which hazards are assessed and mitigated.
  • Optimize safety committee activities based on training, including applying proactive risk management principles to hazard identification, incident investigations, and injury/near-miss reporting.

Return to Work Programs

  • Develop plans to incorporate Return to Work, including consideration of the Stay at Work incentive program, to improve outcomes for injured fire fighters and mitigate time-loss costs to the department (if applicable)

Review Workers’ Compensation Costs

  • Identify trends in your department’s claims such as recurring injury types and use claim data to guide workplace modifications with help available from L&I Risk Managers and other consultants.

Other

  • Re-enrollment occurs annually from mid-September to mid-December.
  • Departments that wish to continue in the program at the conclusion of the program year must submit a newly signed Memorandum of Participation annually.
  • Go to “Memorandum of Participation” section to find the MoP for your next program year.

Withdrawal

  • Decision to withdraw from the FIIRE Program:
    • Submit letter declining participation, including information on the basis for decision and signature of those that enrolled the department into the program.
FIIRE Grant Program

About the FIIRE Grant Program

The FIIRE Grant cycle opens early April of each program year and is an application grant. Applications are due June 30th of each program year.

The Firefighter Injury and Illness Reduction (FIIRE) Grant Program assists departments with purchases to help them implement their Safety Improvement Plan (SIP). Up to $25,000 of grant funding is available to employers of firefighters to purchase additional equipment or gear to implement safety and health best practices, as well as participate in assessments or training related to safety culture or other safety intervention activities. Fire departments can apply for a grant each year as long as they are in compliance with the requirements of the FIIRE program.

Timeline

  • April – Grant Cycle Opens (includes NOFO and application);
  • June 30 – Applications are due;
  • July 1 – FIIRE Team reviews application;
  • August – Award and denial notifications are sent to fire departments;
  • August (current year) through June (of following year) – Period of performance;
  • June (of following year) – Grants are closed out and period of performance ends.

Grant Documents

Notification of Funding

  • Outlines the specific terms, conditions, and financial details of the grant.

FIIRE Grant Application

  • The formal proposal requesting for departments requesting funding.

FIIRE Grant Memorandum of Agreement (MoA)

This document will be sent to departments who are awarded grant funding and will need to be completed to move forward in the grant process. If you are awarded funding, a FIIRE team member will send this document to you.

Documents Needed for Payment Disbursement & Grant Close Out

Equipment/Gear

  • Proof of receipt (packing slip, delivery receipt, email confirmation of receipt, third party logistics tracking, etc.);
  • Invoice;
  • Proof of payment (paid invoice w/ zero balance, cleared/cancelled check, etc.).

Training/Assessments

  • Copy/description of training and or assessment;
  • Date(s) of training/assessment;
  • Approximate number of participants;
  • Invoice;
  • Proof of payment (paid invoice w/ zero balance, cleared/cancelled check, etc.).
Resources

Use the resources on this page as you participate in the FIIRE Program. For general information about fire fighting health and safety, see our fire fighting industry page.

Accident Prevention Program

Carcinogen Reduction Best Practices

Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention

Return to Work Program/Policies

Safety Committee

Vulnerability Assessment Program (VAP)

Contact the FIIRE Program: