VFIS celebrates 30th anniversary
VFIS (originally known as Volunteer Firemen`s Insurance Services, Inc.), founded by Arthur J. Glatfelter in 1969, is marking its 30th anniversary this year. “Thirty years ago, volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel were being neglected by the insurance industry and treated only as an accommodation line,” Glatfelter recalls. He researched and designed an accident/sickness policy that now provides in 49 states (not Hawaii) and Canada new coverages, greater benefits, and an equitable premium rating system based on population served by a fire company instead of the number of pieces of equipment the fire company maintains. The objectives were to make it possible for smaller communities to purchase coverage equal to that of larger communities and to protect firefighters and their families from financial ruin because of injury or specified sickness.
VFIS has provided more than $90 million in benefits to emergency service personnel and their families and has reimbursed fire companies in excess of $165 million for insured property and casualty losses during the past 30 years. Its services have included client education and training programs, special accident and sickness policies for rural fire departments, a pension benefits program for volunteers, and loss control/risk management evaluations for emergency service organizations by VFIS staff.
“Volunteers are facing many more hazardous materials today–more poisonous chemicals and things that can explode–in buildings and on the road,” Glatfelter observes. “U It used to be if you could hold a hose, you were considered a fireman. Today, there`s so much to learn about things you can run into. The equipment is also much more complicated. So you have to spend an awful lot of time in classes–in very extensive training.” Also, notes Glatfelter, greater demands on families` spare time resulting from changed lifestyles make it “harder and harder” to attract volunteers.
Today`s challenges, according to Glatfelter, include (1) “convincing communities that volunteer emergency service is the greatest bargain in this society, (2) getting government more involved in funding, and (3) helping departments attract and maintain a sizable volunteer force.” To help overcome some of these obstacles, VFIS is developing community education tools, providing departments with length-of-service “pension” plans, and offering comprehensive policies. “The crucial question,” he says, “is, Can we keep these fire departments alive without resorting to career fire departments? If we can`t, it`s going to place a tremendous burden on the taxpayers, and they don`t seem to understand that.” n
