The IAFC and Fire Recovery USA are announcing a new initiative to inform fire departments about one option for offsetting their costs in a time of shrinking budgets and greater emergency response challenges.

This initiative comes at a critical time for fire department funding, as city and county officials confront the effects of the economic downturn.

Cost recovery is one measure that fire departments and their cities and counties are adopting. These departments are deciding to file claims against the at-fault driver in motor vehicle accidents to reimburse the fire department for the cost of emergency responses.

Although the process may vary depending on the applicable state law, generally the fire department’s city or county will adopt an ordinance that sets forth the terms of their cost-recovery program. The ordinance is adopted by the city or county, and the fire department then has the authority to file claims for their emergency response services.

“In today’s chaotic economic environment, governments and their fire departments are facing declining tax bases and resources while trying to maintain timely and high-quality emergency responses to their constituents,” said IAFC President Chief Larry J Grorud, CFO, MIFireE. “The IAFC is working to raise awareness about cost recovery, and we believe Fire Recovery USA provides our members with a service that will help them address some of their financial difficulties.”

Fire Recovery USA has said that it only pursues claims against those individuals who are at fault or create the need for an emergency response by a fire department to a qualifying event. Most of the claims, it points out, are made against nonresident at-fault drivers and are less than $450. They are also limited to the costs actually incurred by the fire department in the emergency response.

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