The North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NCFFF) and the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) have partnered as members of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Local Assistance State Team (NFFF – L.A.S.T.). This is a national program that has been developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice. The program’s primary objective is to provide assistance and comfort to the families and fire departments of our fallen heroes and to help with the filing for Public Safety Officer Benefits from federal, state, and local benefit programs. OSFM provides direct technical support to the surviving family and fire department that has suffered a line of duty death to submit the necessary documentation for state and federal benefits. Likewise, NCFFF is prepared to support surviving family and fire department members with resources and assistance to provide for such things as memorial service planning, grief counseling, survivor support network, and recognition at the annual NFFF and NCFFF memorial services.
The Dignity Memorial Public Servants Program is also available to all public safety members in North Carolina. This program provides a dignified and honorable tribute — at no cost — for career and volunteer firefighters who die in the line of duty. The Public Servants Program is provided to honor our fallen heroes and to help relieve the financial stress on the family of those who are killed in the line of duty.
If you have questions about any of these programs, contact Division Chief Walter E. Jones with the City of Rocky Mount Fire Department and the NCFFF President at 252-972-1381 or w.e.jones@rockymountnc.gov or Mike Edwards with the Fire and Rescue Commission at 919-661-5880 or mike.edwards@ncdoi.gov. Or go online to www.ncfff.org and www.ncdoi.com/osfm.