Insurance Company Steps Up to Help Prevent Future Wild Fires in California

To help firefighters keep communities safer from wildfires, State Farm is contributing $250,000 total to CAL FIRE and to the California Fire Safe Council. CAL FIRE will use the $150,000 donation to purchase firefighter protection gear to help improve their safety and the California Fire Safe Council will use the $100,000 donation to help educate the public about fire protection.

"State Farm is grateful for the work of CAL FIRE and the California Fire Safe Council," said Suzanne Jones, Agency Field Executive for State Farm. "We feel it’s important that firefighters have every tool possible to combat wildfires and teach consumers about fire prevention."

State Farm recognizes the benefits of action through fire protection and fire suppression activities. As the largest home insurer in California, we’re there for our customers to recover from the devastating losses of fire.

"I commend companies who go above and beyond their duty as State Farm has today," said California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. "Their generous contribution will help prepare California for the next wildfire."

CAL FIRE’s firefighters, fire engines and aircraft respond to an average of more than 5,600 wildland fires each year. Those fires burn more than 172,000 acres annually. Beyond its wildland fire fighting role, CAL FIRE answers the call more than 300,000 times for other emergencies each year.

While Californians are learning more and more about the good as well as the bad of fire, the prevention of large, damaging fires remains a priority for CAL FIRE.

"We are thankful for State Farm’s support," said CAL FIRE Director Ruben Grijalva. "This support helps provide our firefighters with additional valuable safety gear."

Since its formation in April 1993, the California Fire Safe Council has united its diverse membership to speak with one voice about fire safety. The Council has distributed fire prevention education materials to industry leaders and their constituents, evaluated legislation pertaining to fire safety and empowered grassroots organizations to spearhead fire safety programs.

"We appreciate organizations like State Farm," said Margaret Grayson, Executive Director of the California Fire Safe Council. "This donation will help us further educate citizens of California about protecting their homes, communities and environments from wildfire."

In 2007 State Farm has committed $500,000 to the American Red Cross® Annual Disaster Giving Fund.

About State Farm:

State Farm® insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm’s 17,000 agents and 68,000 employees serve over 76 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.7 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 31 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca®.

About CAL FIRE:

The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection protects the people of California from fires, responds to emergencies, and protects and enhances forest, range, and watershed values providing social, economic, and environmental benefits to rural and urban citizens. For more information, please visit http://www.fire.ca.gov/index.php.

About California Fire Safe Council:

The California Fire Safe Council is a coalition of public and private sector organizations that share a common, vested interest in reducing losses from wildfire. The Council’s mission is to preserve and enhance California’s manmade and natural resources by providing leadership and support that mobilizes all Californians to protect their homes, communities and environment from wildfires. Since 1993, the California Fire Safe Council has seen more than 100 local Fire Safe Councils established that have completed numerous fire safety projects in their communities. For more information, please visit http://www.firesafecouncil.org/.

Source: State Farm Insurance