North Carolina
Chief 101
Line of Duty Death Benefits
Assistance Program
Chief 101 Class
This class consists of several
programs that together will satisfy the
9S inspection criteria as specified by
the North Carolina Administrative
Code. The primary objective of the
course is to inform current and future
chief officers of the various aspects
and complexities surrounding the
operations and organization of North
Carolina fire departments.
Program Objectives
●
Describe the procedures to request
assistance in the event of a line-ofduty death.
●
Identify the initial actions that need
to be taken in the event of a line-ofduty death.
●
Describe the resources that are
available to assist departments in
dealing with a line-of-duty death.
GOAL:
●
To assist fire departments and
rescue squads in assuring that all
state and federal benefits are
pursued for the surviving spouse
and/or family and provide other
services, as requested by the
department, squad, or family.
Available Assistance
●
Aid in filing paperwork for benefits
●
Honor Guard Protocols (Drum &
Pipes)
●
Funeral Protocols / Reception
●
FD / Rescue Staff Assignments
●
Eulogy Guidelines
●
Chaplain List
On-duty Fatality Defined?
●
On-duty fatalities include any
injury or illness sustained while
on-duty that proves fatal.
On-duty Defined?
●
The term ‘on-duty’ refers to being
involved in operations at the scene
of an emergency, whether it is a fire
or non-fire incident; responding to
or returning from an incident;
performing other official duties such
as training, maintenance, public
education, inspection, and
investigations.
www.ncdoi/osfm.com
Possible Benefits
●
State Death Benefits $50,000.00
– $20,000 first year
– $10,000 for 3 years
●
North Carolina State Firemen’s
Association In-Line of Duty Death
$50,000.00
●
N.C. Society of Fire/Rescue
Service Instructors $10,000.00
Possible Benefits
●
Federal Public Safety Officers
Death Benefits $333,604.68 (2013)
+ “COLA”
●
Workers Compensation $287,350 –
$431,000
Possible Benefits
●
Local Relief Fund
●
Pension Fund Reimbursement
(Monies paid into fund)
●
Any Department Benefits such as:
VFIS, Brotherhood Term Life, etc.
●
Each year the Chief should review
all benefits the department has
with the members.
What You Need to do…
̶
Call for help!
Monday through Friday, 8am - 5pm
1-800-634-7854
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After hours:
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Larry Hughes
919-218-1319
Derrick Clouston
919-609-1361
Start a log
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Wayne Bailey
919-218-1588
Mike Edwards
919-810-1525
What we will do and not do:
●
We will not come, if we are not
requested to come.
●
No inaccurate information will be
given out.
●
Will not disseminate information
unless cleared by the Chief and
family.
Assistance Team
●
A response team of 2 OSFM
personnel will arrive within 24 hours,
if needed.
●
They will need access to a
telephone, a fax machine, a table,
etc.
●
They will stay as long as you need
them.
Considerations
●
Communicate to the family the
need for an autopsy to be
performed and blood samples to
be taken.
Why? A cause of death must
be determined in order to avoid a
delay in receiving federal
benefits.
Additional Considerations
●
Secure all PPE and anything that
could be a contributing factor to
the death.
●
Appoint someone to handle the
press/media.
●
Have a press release prepared.
We will contact:
●
North Carolina Industrial Commission
(Worker’s Comp)
●
North Carolina Pension Fund
●
North Carolina Department of Labor
●
North Carolina Firemen’s Association
●
North Carolina Fallen Firefighter’s
Foundation
North Carolina Association of Rescue
& EMS
●
We will contact:
●
Public Safety Officer’s Benefits
●
Volunteer Safety Workers
Compensation Fund
●
VFIS
●
United States Fire Administration
●
National Fire Academy
●
NFPA and NIOSH
NCFFF Services
●
Chaplaincy services in conjunction
with:
– NC State Firemen’s Association
– NC Association of Fire Chiefs
– NC Office of State Fire Marshal
●
Family Transport Van
●
Assist with Funeral Arrangements /
Protocol
●
Serve as a resource for your
department.
Family Transport Van
The NCFFF will provide this fifteen
passenger family transport van to
support families of fallen firefighters.
NCFFF Contact Info
●
www.ncfff.org
●
Mail to:
NC Fallen Firefighter Foundation
2501 Blue Ridge Road
Suite 150
Raleigh, NC 27607
●
1-877-810-1800
Dignity Memorial Information
●
The Dignity Memorial Public Servants
Program offers dignified and honorable
tributes, at no cost, for career and
volunteer firefighters, law enforcement
officers and emergency services
personnel who fall in the line of duty.
The Dignity Memorial Bereavement
Program includes various discounts and
other benefits.
●
For more information, call: (919)828-4311
or go to: www.ncpublicservants.com
Information Needed:
●
Statements from:
– the chief
– all involved personnel
– any witnesses
Information Needed
●
Copies of the following (for the
deceased):
– Driver’s license
– Social security card
– Beneficiary card
– Training records
Information Needed:
●
Spouse’s information:
– Full name
– Address
– Social security number
●
Dependent(s) information:
– Full name(s)
– Date(s) of birth
– Social security number(s)
Information Needed:
●
Original Death Certificate
●
Fire Incident Reports w/ original
signature
●
Casualty Reports w/ original
signature
●
Autopsy Reports w/ original
signature
Information Needed:
●
Press release and news articles
●
Marriage license
●
If previous marriage, copies of
legal separation and divorce
documents
●
Birth certificate for the deceased,
spouse and children
Information Needed:
●
Reports (all with original signature)
– Law Enforcement
– Toxicology
– Hospital
– Ambulance/1st Responder
State Death Benefit
●
This benefit pays a total of
$50,000.00. An initial $20,000.00
is paid upon approval of the claim
and $10,000.00 annually until the
total sum is paid. The State will
pay this benefit regardless of
survivor. If there are none, then
the claim is paid to the estate.
State Death Benefit
As of July 1, 2003, when a firefighter
dies as the direct and proximate
result of a heart attack suffered while
on duty, within 24 hours after
participating in a training exercise, or
responding to an emergency
situation, the fireman is presumed to
have been killed in the line of duty.
North Carolina State
Firemen’s Association
●
Accidental Death and
Dismemberment will pay
$60,000.00 in full:
– In-Line of Duty Deaths =
$50,000.00
– Accidental Death and
Dismemberment = $10,000.00
North Carolina State
Firemen’s Association
●
●
In addition, a seat belt benefit of
$10,000.00 will be paid.
Full scholarships for college
education provided for any
dependent child. These scholarships
essentially cover all expenses except
spending money.
North Carolina State Firemen’s
Association Fraternal Insurance
●
Accidental Death and
Dismemberment will pay $5,000.00
in full. This benefit decreases with
age.
Up to Age 69
70 – 74
75 – 79
80 – 84
85 +
100%
65%
45%
30%
15%
North Carolina State Firemen’s
Association Membership
●
●
1,317 Fire Departments in NC
1,218 Fire Departments NCSFA
members
– 60 Career Departments
– 906 Volunteer Departments
– 252 Combination Departments
●
●
7,890 Members from Career
Departments
35,159 Members from Volunteer
Departments
North Carolina State
Firemen’s Association
www.ncsfa.com
North Carolina Association of
Rescue and Emergency Medical
Services
●
Will pay $100,000.00 for an
In-Line of Duty Death. Upon
approval by the Industrial
Commission, this benefit will make
an initial payment of $20,000.00
and $20,000.00 annually until claim
is paid in full.
North Carolina Association of
Rescue and Emergency Medical
Services
●
Dismemberment and/or Accidental
Death (coverage is 24 hours a day)
$20,000.00.
●
Natural deaths pay $1,000.00.
North Carolina Association of
Rescue and Emergency Medical
Services
●
BENEVOLENT BROTHERHOOD Must be a member
●
Death Benefit is $5,000.00 which is
payable upon death of a member in
the fund. (Benefit increases
$1,000.00 with each increase in
membership of 1,000.)
North Carolina Association of
Rescue and Emergency Medical
Services
●
A spouse and/or dependent(s) of an
In-Line of Duty Death are eligible to
receive scholarships and have
choice of:
– Two (2) year scholarship of
$2,000.00
– Four (4) year scholarship of
$12,000.00
North Carolina Association of
Rescue and Emergency Medical
Services
●
517 Recognized Rescue Squads in
North Carolina
●
11,612 Career Squad Members
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15,463 Volunteer Squad Members
●
27,075 Total Members
North Carolina Association of
Rescue and Emergency Medical
Services
www.ncarems.org
Worker’s Compensation
●
This benefit is calculated at a
specific rate equaling 2/3 of his/her
weekly wages for 500 weeks.
●
Presently the maximum rate is
$862.00 for career emergency
personnel and a minimum rate of
$574.70 (2/3 of the maximum) for
volunteer emergency personnel.
Worker’s Compensation
●
Benefits for minor-age beneficiaries
are also figured for 500 weeks or
until age of 18, whichever is longer.
●
Part-time emergency personnel
rate would be based on the salary
paid for those part-time hours
worked.
Pension Fund
●
A reimbursement from the fund will
be made to the spouse, children,
heirs, or estate, in the amount
equal to the total that was paid into
the fund by the deceased.
Pension Fund
●
In the event the deceased died
after having received some
benefits, but before receiving a
sum equal to the amount paid into
the fund, a payment will be made
that is equal to the difference.
Public Safety Officer
Benefit (PSOB)
●
Pays a minimum of $100,000.00
plus a cost of living allowance.
●
Benefit is currently paying
$333,604.68.
Public Safety Officer Benefit
(PSOB)
●
This benefit is paid as follows:
– Surviving spouse with no
dependents receives full payment.
– Surviving spouse with surviving
dependents: the spouse receives
half of full amount and the remaining
half is divided equally among the
dependents.
– If there is no surviving spouse or
dependent, the payment will be
made to the surviving parents of the
deceased.
●
This benefit is not paid
to the estate.
Public Safety Officer Benefit
(PSOB)
●
The PSOB program also includes
educational assistance through
the Public Safety Officer's
Educational Assistance (PSOEA).
●
Currently, the maximum award for
a full-time student is $860.00 per
month and proportionately less for
part-time students.
Public Safety Officer Benefit (PSO
●
This educational assistance may
be used to defray relevant
expenses:
– Tuition & Fees
– Room & Board
– Books
– Supplies
– Other education-related costs
Federal Legislation
●
●
Hometown Heroes Survivors
Benefits Act of 2003
– Congressman Bob Etheridge
introduced HR 5334 in 2002
– President signed into law
December 15, 2003
This bill is to ensure that a public
safety officer who suffers a fatal
heart attack or stroke while on duty
shall be presumed to have died in
the line of duty.
United States Fire
Administration
●
USFA Firefighter Fatalities
www.usfa.dhs.gov
– Notices of firefighter fatality
– Information about on-duty U.S.
firefighter fatalities
– Database that allows visitors to
search for firefighters honored at
the National Fallen Firefighters
Memorial
United States Fire
Administration
– Description of the Memorial
– Database that provides statistics
related to the circumstances
surrounding fatalities
– The annual USFA firefighter
fatality report
– Information about Public Safety
Officer Benefits (PSOB)
USFA Reports Firefighter
Fatalities in 2005
●
117 firefighter deaths
– 36 career and 81 volunteer
– 30 firefighters died while working
on the scene of a fire incident.
– 22 firefighters deaths were
attributed to responding or
returning from an incident scene.
– 65 firefighters died of heart
attacks or stroke.
USFA Reports Firefighter
Fatalities in 2006
●
106 firefighter deaths
– 29 career and 77 volunteer
– 37 firefighters died while working
on the scene of a fire incident.
– 19 firefighters deaths were
attributed to responding or
returning from an incident scene.
– 50 firefighters died of heart
attacks or stroke.
USFA Reports Firefighter
Fatalities in 2007
●
115 Firefighter deaths
– 49 career and 59 volunteers
– 3 fulltime and 1 contract wildland
firefighters; 2 paid on call and 1
industrial fireman
– 37 firefighters died while working
on the scene of a fire incident.
USFA Reports Firefighter
Fatalities in 2007
– 26 from responding or returning
from an incident scene.
– 13 after an incident.
– 20 on duty.
– 11 training.
– 8 on scene, non-fire.
USFA Reports Firefighter
Fatalities in 2007
●
The loss of 9 Charleston S.C.
firefighters in June marked the
largest loss of life since the attack
on September 11, 2001.
●
52 firefighters died of heart attacks
or stroke.
USFA Reports Firefighter
Fatalities in 2008
●
118 firefighter deaths
– 34 career and 66 volunteers
– 18 full/part time contract wildland
firefighters
●
12 firefighters died of heart attacks
or stroke.
●
75 deaths occurred while on an
emergency scene
●
43 deaths occurred non-emergency
USFA Reports Firefighter
Fatalities in 2009
●
●
●
90 firefighter deaths
– 36 career and 47 volunteers
– 7 wildland agency firefighters
39 firefighters died of heart attacks
or stroke.
30 deaths occurred while on an
emergency scene.
USFA Reports Firefighter
Fatalities in 2009
●
●
●
15 deaths occurred while
responding or returning.
10 deaths while engaged in training
activities.
14 deaths after the conclusion of
their on-duty activity.
United States Fire
Administration
USFA Focus on Finding Solutions
in Reduction of Firefighter Fatalities
●
USFA’s main program goals:
– 25% reduction in fatalities in 5
years.
– 50% reduction within 10 years.
United States
Firefighter Fatalities
NC Fatalities 1998 - 2008
From 1998 to 2008 North Carolina Fire
Service experienced 60 fatalities
Incident Types Percent
Other
Fires
MVC
Heart
Attack
Fatality Causes
●
Heart attacks were the
leading cause of
fatalities at 57.63%.
●
Motor Vehicle
Crashes followed at
27.12%.
●
Fires and Other types
of incidents each
carried 8.47%.
Incident Types Percent
Other
Fires
MVC
Heart
Attack
Fatality Causes
Motor Vehicle Crashes
●
Seat Belts a Must.
●
Motor Vehicle Crashes are the
most preventable type of fatality.
●
Only 1 of the 16 fatalities in
Motor Vehicle Crashes occurred
while wearing a seat belt. (Two
of the MVC’s involved a
motorcycle.)
Fatality Causes
Total Fatalites NC
35
33
30
25
20
16
15
10
5
5
0
1998-2008
5
Heart Attack
MVC
Fire
Other
Motor Vehicle Crashes
by Year
A noticeable decline in Motor Vehicle Crashes
extended to none in 2005 with a major increase
starting in 2006. Half of all Motor Vehicle
Crashes have occurred in the past two years.
5
4
3
2
1
0
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Fatalities by Region
19
18.5
18
17.5
17
16.5
16
East
Piedmont
West
The Names We Shouldn’t
Forget
●
By Remembering
– To drive more safely.
– Be physically fit.
– Operate more safely at scenes.
North Carolina Line of Duty
Deaths Since 1997
●
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Henry Perry
Brian Cannon
Carson Gosey
Robbie Blizzard
Sidney Jones
Randall Blevins
Kenneth Strain
Pumpkin Center
Taylor’s Bridge
SDO
Arrington
Throughfare
Helton Ambulance
Hemby Bridge
09-14-97
01-16-98
10-24-98
11-06-98
11-06-98
03-29-99
05-02-99
NC Line of Duty Deaths
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Gary Bankert
David Sharp
Lisa Farrow
Howard Vanhoy
Betty Dennis
Eddie Mathis
Thomas Brooks
Josh Earley
William Beard
Bridgett Autry
Cassandra B. Powell
Roanoke-Wildwood
Fayetteville
Engelhard
Austin
Franklin
Dallas
Lumberton
Harrisburg
Greensboro
Clinton
McLeansville
01-15-00
03-17-00
08-09-00
09-05-00
01-03-01
07-16-01
01-31-02
03-07-02
04-10-02
06-13-02
09-23-02
NC Line of Duty Deaths
●
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Terry Carroll
Michael Copeland
Douglas Coffey
Randy Jones
Gerald Williams
Mark Franklin
Phillip Hulen
Joseph Griffin
Coats/Grove
Charlotte
Blowing Rock
Cool Springs
Cool Springs
Charlotte
Vann Crossroads
Siler City
01-07-03
01-25-03
07-23-03
07-28-03
09-30-03
11-30-03
04-06-04
02-02-04
NC Line of Duty Deaths
●
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Robert Martin
Michael Childress
Todd Blanchard
James E. Scott
Larry D. Crouse
Bostic
Level Cross
Eastern Wake
Hamilton
Alleghany
01-09-05
05-07-05
07-12-05
09-16-05
12-31-05
NC Line of Duty Deaths
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Wayne Yarborough
Kelly M. Kincaid
William M. Price
Joseph L. Bilka
Larry Fanning
Ronald Allen
Robert G. Whittaker
Michael Browne
Jeffrey S. Hollingsworth
Kent F. Long
Waynesville
Morganton
Jamesville
Antioch/Fishing Creek
Garner
Tar Heel
Marshallberg
ADR
Clement
Charlotte
03-05-06
03-19-06
04-16-06
05-21-06
08-05-06
09-22-06
11-14-06
11-16-06
11-30-06
12-01-06
NC Line of Duty Deaths
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Joseph A. Jones
Pilot Mtn.
02-12-07
Billy H. Williams
Rhodestown
03-24-07
Brandon M. Whimple
Rhodestown
03-24-07
Otis E. Stephenson, Jr. Angier
05-09-07
Nemeth F. Sanders
NC Forestry Service 07-27-07
Gerald David Donley, Jr. Swepsonville
08-08-07
Todd Hage
Wesley Chapel
08-11-07
Glenn Williams Miller
Whispering Pines 08-17-07
Michael Dean Stanfield Anderson Township 09-10-07
Raymond Dale White
Dover V.F.D.
09-29-07
NC Line of Duty Deaths
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Herman S. Jones
James E. Arthur
Victor A. Isler
Justin Monroe
Walter W. Michl
Rufus E. Brinson, Jr.
Colin Gene Thomas
George Crocker
Curtis Jessen
Carol Taylor
Raleigh
Cold Water
Salisbury
Salisbury
Roanoke-Wildwood
Reelsboro
Verona
Pine Level/Raleigh
NCDFR
Goldsboro
01-22-08
02-11-08
03-07-08
03-07-08
03-16-08
06-06-08
06-14-08
06-22-08
08-21-08
11-14-08
NC Line of Duty Deaths
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William Parsons
Gregory Cooke
Bonnie McNeil
Matthew Tramel
Robert Simmons
Chad Greene
Jimmy Davis, Sr.
Millers Creek V.F.D.
Salem District V.F.D.
Union Rescue Squad
Pembroke F.D.
Central School
Union Cross
White Oak
02-01-09
03-21-09
05-14-09
06-05-09
09-01-09
11-04-09
12-10-09
NC Line of Duty Deaths
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
*Johnny Littleton Pine Level V.F.D.
*Jeremy Bolick Blowing Rock F & R
*Thomas Wright Blowing Rock F & R
*Johnny Norton Hot Springs V.F.D.
*Jeffery S. Bowen Asheville F.D.
*George Fisher III Sandy Bottom V.F.D.
*David Howell
Roseboro V.F.D.
*David Hunsinger Jr. Tar Heel V.F.D.
*Ricky Barbour Wilson's Mills
*James Walters Sr. Parkton V.F.D.
*Jeffery Grega Little Swift V.F.D.
08-20-10
03-21-10
03-21-10
11-21-11
07-28-11
08-22-11
05-23-11
04-07-11
02-04-11
01-29-11
01-17-11
NC Line of Duty Deaths
•
•
•
•
•
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•
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*Walter Summerville
Kernersville F/R
*John M. Hall
Clarkton V.F.D.
*David M. Tatum White Oak V.F.D.
*Caleb Benfield Bethlehem Comm. F/R
*Jack Snoddy Brunswick County EMS
*Donald Suggs Summerville F/R
*John Jefferson Edgecombe County EMS
*Shawn Mitchell Caswell County EMS
*Chad Settlemyre Sawmills F.D.
*Samuel Butler Evans Crossroads V.F.D.
11-07-12
11-07-12
11-05-12
10-10-12
08-27-12
06-11-12
06-09-12
02-28-12
02-27-12
01-09-12
NC Line of Duty Deaths
•
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*David Heath New Hanover County F/R
*Tony Barker Mountain View V.F.D.
*Dennis Lamm Elm City EMS
*Joseph Autrey Burke County EMS
*Sarah Stonesifer Pinehill V.F.D.
*Owens Ward Columbus County Transport
* Scott Morrison Knotts Island V.F.D.
10-14-13
06-13-13
05-09-13
04-26-13
03-29-13
03-29-13
03-03-13
Questions?