WF Foundation
2049 Airport Way
Boise, Idaho 83705

Ph (208) 336-2996
Fx (208) 336-2995

info@wffoundation.org

• Our History
• Board of Directors

• Driving Directions

BUSINESS PLAN
2007 Annual Report
2006 Annual Report
2005 Annual Report

The Wildland Firefighter Foundation

Wildland firefighters represent the diversity of the land they protect. They are federal, state and local firefighters, private sector firefighters, interface firefighters, and volunteers from rural communities and towns across the United States. Many are long-time career professionals, some much newer to the job. They're ordinary people doing an extraordinary job – a community of committed individuals who work and train to protect our private and public lands.

The Mission of the Wildland Firefighter Foundation is to honor past, present, and future wildland firefighters by helping maintain and grow the national monument established for those who have lost their lives, operate a financial fund providing assistance to the families of fallen and wildland firefighters and to injured firefighters, and partner with private and interagency organizations to educate the public about wildland fires and promote excellence and safety in firefighting.

We provide financial assistance, immediate and ongoing emotional support, advocacy, and recognition to fallen and injured wildland firefighters. We present program information and in some instances, onsite crisis support, to government and private fire agencies and other organizations.

Survivor family members are forever a part of the Foundation's purpose. We continue to provide emotional support and in some cases financial support many years after a firefighter's death. Additional support may include holiday sponsorships for families with young children, travel expenses to attend survivor gatherings and recognition programs, and counseling for immediate family members.

We will not forget.

Our Story

Active volunteers and supporters of wildland firefighters established the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, a 501(c)3 to maintain the Wildland Firefighters National Monument at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho.

Since 1999, the Foundation has also provided emergency support services to the families of seriously injured and firefighters killed in the line of duty. Families left behind, many with young children, often find themselves with few resources, and the Foundation steps in to help.

Our Mission

Wildland Firefighter Foundation's main focus is to help families of firefighters killed in the line of duty and to assist injured firefighters and their families. We honor and acknowledge past, present, and future members of the wildland firefighting community, and partner with private and interagency organizations to bring recognition to wildland firefighters.

Our Staff

Vicki Minor, the Executive Director and founder of the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, oversees the daily overall services of the Foundation's activities.  Vicki knows fire.  She ran her own business for more than 20 years, selling dry goods to firefighters at camps throughout the West.  After the Storm King disaster, Vicki's heart was forever touched and changed.  She knew there was a need for some type of assistance for the families left behind after such a tragedy.  Thus, the idea for the Foundation was born.

Burk Minor, Vicki's son, fills the position of Director Public Relations.  He spends much of his summer on the road at fire camp, pulling the WFF trailer to each site.  Burk also has many years of fire camp in his blood, helping to run the business started by Vicki.  And, six years guiding hunters in the Frank Church Wilderness Area doesn't hurt either.  He has extensive management skills through his past experience operating and running the largest tire shop in Alaska.

Melissa Schwagerl works on developing and writing policies and procedures, fund development and writing grants. She has more than fifteen years of non-profit experience. Melissa joined the Foundation the summer of 2004 and works from a satellite office in Spokane, Washington.