TOPEKA — Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger is currently making the annual funds distribution to state and local firefighter relief organizations.

Nearly $12 million will be distributed among 569 local Firefighters Relief Associations across the state, nearly $342,000 more than the 2013 total.

Ellis County will receive a total of $121,486.83. The funds will be distributed as follows:

• Ellis County Rural Fire Department: $34,352.99
• Ellis Fire Department: $7,223.84
• Hays Fire Department: $74,450.08
• Victoria Fire Department: $5,459.92

“This fund assists firefighters and their families when an accident or death occurs in the line of duty,” Praeger said. “We in the Kansas Insurance Department are honored to assist in its distribution.”

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 state, on behalf of the Kansas Firefighter Relief Act, and passed on to the FRAs, as required by Kansas law.

The Kansas State Firefighters Association will receive $479,095 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.

Nearly $1.26 million in benefits was paid in 2013 to firefighters as a result of firefighting-related injuries or disability, and nearly $237,000 went to dependents of firefighters.