Hays and Ellis County are among the beneficiaries of the  annual funds distribution to state and local firefighter relief organizations by the Kansas Insurance Department.

More than $10.4 million will be distributed among 578 local Firefighters Relief Associations (FRAs) across the state. That is nearly $550,000 more than the 2011 total.

“This fund assists firefighters and their families when an accident or death occurs in the line of duty,” says Insurance  Commissioner Sandy Praeger.

The local association funds are used for purchasing accident and health, disability, and life insurance premiums to assist firefighters and their families.

The money is generated by a 2 percent tax paid by insurance companies on fire and lightning insurance premiums written in Kansas for the previous calendar year. It is collected by the department, on behalf of the Kansas Firefighter Relief Act, and passed on to the FRAs, as set in Kansas law.

Also, the Kansas State Firefighters Association will receive $431,244 for education and research purposes and to help fund the state association’s death benefit fund. These funds also come from the insurance company premium assessment.

Of the state association total, $331,244 is earmarked for educational purposes and research into fire prevention and firefighting, and $100,000 is used to replenish the death benefit fund.

Nearly $1.3 million in benefits was paid in 2011 to firefighters as a result of firefighting-related injuries or disability, and nearly $837,000 went to dependents of firefighters.

The Ellis County disbursements are:

FRA#532 ELLIS CO RURAL FIRE DEPT F R A: $31,294.57
FRA#190 ELLIS F R A: $6,653.14
FRA#237 HAYS F R A: $57,699.56
FRA#431 VICTORIA F R A: $5,050.97