San Diego Firefighters have been caring for our community for over a century...
...and we have been caring for them
every step of the way.
The San Diego Fireman's Relief Association was founded in 1907 and incorporated in 1908. The by-laws were adopted in September of 1907, with the expressed goals of:
1. To create and maintain a Firemen's Relief Fund for the protection, care and relief of the members of the City Fire Department service who may become disabled by and through such service.
2. To promote fraternal friendship and refined friendship among its members.
According to our current by-laws, our goal is:
"To bind the members together in a closer bond of fraternity for mutual protection, to assist the members and their families in sickness, distress and death, and to promote and improve social relations and welfare among the members."
In 1907, the Association became concerned about the members of the Fire Department, who received no benefits from the city. Firefighters traditionally came from working-class families, and when a firefighter was killed, those families had to struggle to pay for funeral and burial costs. In response to this growing need, The Relief Association bought burial plots at Greenwood Memorial Park in 1915 and established "Fireman's Rest". The plots in this area were specially designated for use by firefighters and their families, and were made available at affordable prices.
In 1986 the San Diego Fireman's Relief Association began offering medical insurance to dependents of member firefighters. This was before our Medical Plan was offered on the City's flexible benefits menu. In 1987 our Medical Plan was offered as a choice on the flexible benefits menu. Due to escalating insurance costs, the medical plan was forced to cease operation on July 31, 2004.
In 1990 the Relief Association established a charitable organization to benefit firefighters called the Widows, Orphans & Distressed Firefighter's Fund. This fund assists both active and retired firefighters in times of financial distress. Since then, the Widows, Orphans, & Distressed Firefighters Fund has been renamed and is now known as the Benevolent Fund, a 501(c)3 non-profit administered by the San Diego Fireman's Relief Association.
The Benevolent Fund depends on the generosity of the public— individuals, companies, and organizations who make tax-deductible monetary donations by mail or through our website. Funds are used to administer assistance to firefighters and their families when they are injured or killed or during other times of hardship and distress. The Benevolent Fund also sponors an annual scholarship program.