Families of Injured and Fallen Firefighters Struggling Under Minimal Benefits
Los Angeles, California (July 5, 2004) – A fire engine rushing to a fire breaks down on a foggy
country road. The 19-year old volunteer firefighter driving the fire engine sees a friend driving his pickup in the opposite
direction and flags him down. When the firefighter sprints across the road to borrow a chain so the fire engine can be towed,
a speeding van darts out of the fog and the firefighter is struck and killed.
Compounding this tragedy, because his fire chief wrote up the report “He was crossing the road to get a chain to pull the fire
truck back to the station” without including the fact he was on his way to a fire, the firefighter’s pregnant wife is denied the
$267,000 federal Public Safety Officer Benefit (PSOB) death benefit and only $50,000 of the $154,000 state death benefit
is paid out, money she desperately needs for her family of two kids.
A veteran firefighter with 30 years of service is instructing a class on breather gear and smoke inhalation effects in a smoke-
filled training room. His breathing gear malfunctions and he begins breathing smoke. Unable to catch his breath, the firefighter
suffers a massive heart-attack and dies. Since he was only conducting a training session, not participating in an actual fire, his
family is also denied full death benefits.
In many cases, similar stories apply to firefighters who may be part-time or volunteers. Cash-strapped states and
municipalities may restrict access to death benefit funds, as does the federal government. For instance, since 1958, over 150
air-tanker pilots have died in the line of duty and none of them have been eligible for the PSOB death benefit due to the fact
they are viewed as civilian contractors, not employees of federal or state agencies.
To combat this problem, Firebomber Publications has entered into a strategic partnership with Emergency Training
Associates (ETA) designed to provide expanded fund-raising capability to organizations that support firefighters.
“ETA has agreed to provide a 25% commission (50% of the publisher’s net profits) for the first two novels in the
Firebombers Incorporated saga (Firebombers Incorporated and the newly-released sequel, Firestorm) while also providing
a commission of up to 10% on many other items on the ETA websites to qualified firefighter support organizations who
join this program as affiliates”, stated Lou Jordan, President of ETA.
“This is our way of supporting the brave men and women who put their lives in jeopardy day after day, yet end up at the
end of the line (or left out in the cold) when it comes to benefits”, said Firebomber Publications publisher Michael Archer.
“They are often forced to work with outdated or faulty equipment because there is no funding to buy new gear. By joining
the affiliates program, even the smallest fire department or charity will not only get help to buy new equipment, but the
program will also provide funds for the families of injured or fallen firefighters within their jurisdiction”.
“We are enthusiastic about this new program!”, said Monty Gearhart, Director of Ways and Means for the California State
Firefighters Association (CSFA), a member of the affiliates program. “Not only can visitors to our site (www.csfa.net) get a
great read, but they also help CSFA financially, since we get a portion of the profits every time they buy a copy of
FIRESTORM or FIREBOMBERS INCORPORATED”.
About ETA
Emergency Training Associates is the parent company that owns and operates 4 divisions, all serving the Emergency
Services Community. EMSBooks, FirehouseBooks, EmergencyTees and FirehouseFoods have grown into specific
divisions of ETA over the years. Website: www.emsbooks.com
About Firebomber Publications
Firebomber Publications is a small press dedicated to providing exciting firefighting fiction to the general public. Firebomber
Publications donates 50% of the profits from sales of the “Firebombers Incorporated” product line to organizations that
support the families of injured and fallen firefighters. Website: www.firebomberpublications.com
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Michael Archer of Firebomber Publications
(626) 915-4779 (Phone/FAX)
info@firebomberpublications.com
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