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Division of State Fire Marshal

 

LINE-OF-DUTY DEATH NOTIFICATION

We provide this information with the fervent hope and continued dedication to safety that it will never be used. Report a Line-of-Duty Death to the State Fire Marshal Safety Program Section, as soon as possible, at (352) 369-2836.

 

STATE OF FLORIDA LINE-OF-DUTY DEATH RESOURCES

State Death Benefit
Every firefighter employer, as defined in statute, is liable for the payment of line of duty death and catastrophic injury benefits set forth in Florida Statute 112.191. The amounts are adjusted annually by Florida Administrative Code 69A-64, to reflect the consumer price index. The firefighter employer must be either self-insured or secure insurance to ensure the benefit payments. The benefits set forth in Section 112.191, Florida Statutes, are in addition to any workers compensation or pension benefits to which the beneficiary may be entitled. Contact the firefighter's department for details and procedures.
 

State Workers' Compensation Benefit and Funeral Benefit
The Workers' Compensation Benefit may be available to either Career or Volunteer Firefighters. The definition of employment includes firefighters responding to or assisting with fire or medical emergencies whether or not the firefighters are on duty. The Workers' Compensation "acting within the course of employment" is located within Florida Statute 440.091, and the Workers' Compensation "for death" is located within Florida Statute 440.16.
          Contact:          Division of Workers Compensation
                                Department of Financial Services
                                200 East Gaines Street
                                Tallahassee, Florida 32399-4228
                                (800) 342-1741 or (850) 413-1609
                                Workers.CompService@MyFloridaCFO.com

Educational Benefits
Certain educational benefits may be available to the surviving spouse and children. Information on these benefits are contained in Sections (3) and (4) of Florida Statute 112.191. These benefits are also addressed in the Florida Administrative Code (FAC), within the Department of Education's Rules, under FAC 6C-7.008 and FAC 6C2-2.02414.
          Contact:          Office of the Commissioner
                                Department of Education
                                Turlington Building, Suite 1514
                                325 West Gaines Street
                                Tallahassee, Florida 32399
                                (850) 245-0505
                                Commissioner@fldoe.org 

Retirement or Pension Plan Benefits
Most Career and Volunteer State, Municipal, and Special District Firefighters are covered under the Firefighters Pension Trust Fund. The contact information for the MPOFRTF is provided below. However, some Florida jurisdictions have independent and/or supplementary plans or annuities for their Firefighters, and for these you would have to contact the local authorities. Firefighter pension beneficiaries are covered in Florida Statute 175.181, and death benefits prior to retirement are covered in Florida Statute 175.201. The rule information about pension beneficiaries is located in FAC Chapter 60S-4 Benefits, and the Benefits Payable Upon Death are specifically located in FAC 60S-4.008.
          Contact:          Municipal Police Officers' and Firefighters Retirement Trust Funds Office
                                Division of Retirement
                                P. O. Box 3010
                                Tallahassee, Florida 32315-3010
                                (877) 738-6737
                                mpf@dms.MyFlorida.com  

 

FEDERAL LINE-OF-DUTY DEATH RESOURCES

 

SPECIALIZED RESOURCES

Autopsy Guide

Firefighter Autopsy Protocol, United States Fire Administration, 1991
          Contact:          United State Fire Administration
                                USFA Publications Center
                                16825 South Seton Avenue
                                Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727
                                (800) 561-3356

Funeral Guides

Chaplain's Manual: Fire Department Funerals, Federation of Fire Chaplains, 1994
          Contact:          Federation of Fire Chaplains
                                Route 1, Box 155B
                                Clifton, Texas 76634
                                (254) 622-8514
                                chapdir1@aol.com

Funeral Procedures for Firefighters, National Volunteer Fire Council, 1991
          Contact:          National Volunteer Fire Council
                                1050 17th Street, NW, Suite 490
                                Washington, DC 20036
                                (202) 737-8484 or (888) ASK-NVFC
                                nvfcoffice@nvfc.org

IAFF Recommended Protocol for Line-of-Duty Deaths
         
The IAFF will provide this protocol at the request of the IAFF District Vice President or
          local IAFF affiliates.
          Contact:          IAFF
                                1750 New York Avenue, NW
                                Washington, DC 20006
                                (202) 737-8484
                                www.iaff.org/HS/LODD/funeralprotocol.htm  

A Labor of Love, How to Write a Eulogy, Garry Schaeffer
          This book offers tips on what to say and provides samples.
          Contact:          GMS Publishing
                                10250 Caminito Cuervo • Suite 23
                                San Diego, CA 92108
                                (619) 584-1846
         
          or:                  www.eulogybook.net
                                (800) 479-7487
                              

Investigation Guide

Guide for Investigation of a Line of Duty Death, International Association of Fire Chiefs
          Contact:          International Association of Fire Chiefs
                                4025 Fair Ridge Drive
                                Fairfax, Virginia 22033-2868
                                (703) 273-0911
                                publications@iafc.org

Honor Guard

The Florida Fire Service Honor Guard Association (The Honor Guard Section of the Florida Fire Chiefs' Association) can provide information, a unified communication network, leadership, training, and education in presentations and protocols.
          Contact:          Florida Fire Chiefs' Association
                                880 Airport Road, Suite 110
                                Ormond Beach, Florida 32174
                                (386) 676-2744
                                info@ffca.org

LODD Investigations

All Line of Duty Deaths in Florida must be investigated by the State Fire Marshal. Please notify the agency below immediately:

Division of State Fire Marshal
Bureau of Fire Standards and Training
Safety Program Section
11655 NW Gainesville Road
Ocala, Florida 34482
(352) 369-2836

After normal business hours, the State Fire Marshal can be reached at (800) NET-FIRE
 or through the State Warning Point at (800) 320-0519.

If you have experienced a Line-of-Duty Death and you need assistance, contact the Safety Program Office of the Bureau of Fire Standards and Training at (352) 369-2836. We will provide assistance and we also have a publication called "For Those Who Gave So Much", by Dwaine E. Booth, that you may find helpful.