No current funeral notices posted.

Thank you for your interest in the WSFFA Spouse and Orphan’s Fund. This is a private death benefit fund only for Washington State Career and Volunteer Fire Fighters and those directly associated with fire departments in the State of Washington. The basis of the fund is “firefighters helping firefighters”. Upon notification of the death of a fund member, a check for one dollar ($1) for each member of the fund at the time of notification of death (up to a maximum $1,750.00) is sent as soon as possible to the beneficiary. (Usually within 24 hours.) This money is welcomed by the survivors for sudden and unforeseen expenses. As you are probably aware, insurance companies often take 3 months (or even more) to pay the benefit.

The essentials of membership are:

1. The individual is a regular active member of a fire department or an employee of a fire department.

2. The individual has not reached their 45th birthday.

3. The individual is in good health.

4. The beneficiary named must be the member’s spouse, parent(s), child(ren), registered Washington State Domestic Partner or estate. Living trusts are also recognized as a beneficiary as that is equivalent to the member's estate.

Initial membership is $37.00 (including the time period to the end of the fiscal year) and succeeding years are $32.00 per year. Our fiscal year is from July 1 through June 30. Billings are sent to the department in the spring (usually April) and are due by June 30th. After an individual has been a member of the department and a member of the fund for five (5) continuous years they are eligible to continue their membership after they leave the department (for any reason). We have the capability of billing them individually after this five-year period. No one can receive benefit from the fund unless they are a member of the fund at the time of death.

This is a brief summary of the fund. The complete bylaws are also posted at this website. If you have additional questions, please contact Ed Johnson, Treasurer, at 253-445-9624 or via e-mail at: xchief204@aol.com or you may contact Tom Needham, Secretary, at 425-333-4833 or via e-mail at: tomwa7tbp@aol.com.

Current board members are:

Chair Ken McCulloch, McLean Road Fire Department, retired r />Vice chair Ron, Caster, Washougal Fire and Rescue
Secretary Tom Needham, Eastside Fire & Rescue
Treasurer Ed Johnson, King County Fire District 2, retired.
Member Dave Wytko, Buckley Fire Department, retired