Our Funding Priorities:

  • Enhance firefighter safety and effectiveness

  • Invest in ways to improve the health and wellness of the firefighters

  • Deepen the Department’s connection with the communities it serves

The Seattle Fire
Foundation

The Seattle Fire Foundation channels community and corporate support into important, but unmet resources for Seattle’s firefighters.

Every donated dollar has a direct and meaningful impact on those who risk their lives to keep Seattle safe.

Funding Priority Categories:

The Foundation supports Seattle’s firefighters by providing crucial equipment that help keep them safe in the line of duty.  We focus on providing resources that are not met by the city budget, and often means replacing dated equipment with newer, better solutions.

A critical priority of the Seattle Fire Foundation is to invest in ways to significantly impact the overall health and wellness of Seattle’s firefighters.  Cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty firefighter deaths in our country.  Smoke from structure fires has become more dangerous than heat and flames.   Technological advancements in the gear worn by firefighters can provide additional protection from these carcinogens.

Tragically, firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than from responding to an on-duty incident, according to the CDC.  It is estimated that 1 in 3 first responders develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  The foundation provides support for Seattle Fire’s Peer Support program, which works to increase its suicide prevention efforts.  One way this is done it to send SFD members to the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST).

The SFD Canine Therapy Dog Program

The SFD Canine Therapy Program helps alleviate psychological and emotional trauma impacting firefighters. A certified therapy dog and handler duo deploy to critical incidents and situations to help firefighters manage the heavy stress and emotions they experience when responding to tragedies.

The foundation provides funds to help the SFD firefighter/dog handlers cover ongoing expenses from training, vet care, food and grooming.