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NVFC Relief Fund Donates $10,000 to Japan Firefighters

Published Date: 06.28.2011

The National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) International Relief Fund raised $10,000 to help benefit fallen or severely injured volunteer firefighters and their families in the wake of the devastating earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis. Thank you to all those who contributed to the fund and offered your support to fellow first responders in need.

The Japanese and U.S. fire services have a long history of collaboration and mutual support. The Japan Firefighters Association has assisted U.S. firefighters in times of need through donations to 9/11 relief efforts as well as contributions to the NVFC’s Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund, which provides financial assistance to U.S. volunteer firefighters in the wake of a state- or federally-declared disaster. Members of the Japan Firefighters Association have visited the U.S. many times to meet with leaders from the NVFC and local departments across the U.S., including a visit in October. NVFC Executive Director Heather Schafer attended the Japan Firefighters Association’s Junior Fire Brigade Summit in Tokyo in February, and NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg previously attended an international fire service conference in Tokyo in 2008.

Japan still has a long road toward recovery. More than 15,000 people were killed in the tsunami, and over 8,000 remain missing. The Wall Street Journal reports that an estimated 25 million tons of debris from destroyed buildings still need to be cleared from devastated coastal areas. According to CNN, the nuclear power plant crisis in Fukushimi has forced more than 100,000 people from the surrounding area to evacuate, while  tens of thousands of tons of contaminated water has leaked out of the three damaged reactors and restrictions placed on agricultural and fisheries products have been devastating to Japanese farmers and fishers.

Throughout the crisis, Japan’s firefighters have remained steadfast in their commitment to protect their communities and do what they can to assist in recovery. Click here to read a story from MSNBC about the impact the tsunami had on one community and the perseverance and determination of the firefighters after the loss of one of their own in the disaster.

The NVFC also provides assistance to U.S. firefighters impacted by large-scale disasters through the Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund. Click here to learn more, make a donation, or apply for assistance.

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