Reimbursement for Firefighting Costs on Federal Property

How to file a claim

Claims for reimbursement must be submitted within 90 days of the incident. There isn't a claim form to submit but you must include the following information in your fire department's claim package:

Contact information

• Name, address, jurisdiction and nature (volunteer, private, municipal, etc.) of the fire department.
• Name, title, address, phone number and email address of the person authorized by the fire department to make the claim.
• Name, email address and phone number of a federal employee familiar with the facts of the incident.
• Name, address, and phone number of the federal organization having jurisdiction over the burned property. Proof of federal ownership of property involved must be clearly established. The cost for firefighting on non-federally owned property (leased) is not reimbursable regardless of the origin of the fire.

Fire department information

• Evidence of authorization to initiate the claim.
• Proof of authority to fight fire (source of alarm, requested or accepted by a federal official).
• Information on mutual aid agreements with any federal agency.
• A list of any money or grants the federal government has paid to your department in the past.

Fire information

• Location of the fire.
• Description of the property burned.
• Copy of fire reports from the dispatch center, fire department, or other reporting organization.
• List of personnel on scene and fighting the fire.
• List of major firefighting apparatus on scene.
• Complete list of direct expenses (losses) associated with the on-scene firefighting effort, such as overtime pay, food, additional fuel, etc. Loses are paid on the depreciated value of equipment damaged or destroyed.