The Wildland Firefighter Foundation is dedicated to supporting the brave men and women who risk their lives to protect our forests, homes, and communities. We provide assistance to firefighters and their families in times of need. Our mission is to honor, support, and assist wildland firefighters and their families through financial aid, physical and emotional support, advocacy, and community.
Our values reflect the strength, compassion, and courage of the wildland firefighting community. They guide our mission to support those who protect our forests and their families in times of need.
Compassion
Putting firefighters and their families first.
Integrity
Providing transparency in all that we do.
Community
Strengthening bonds between firefighters and supporters.
After 14 wildland firefighters lost their lives in the 1994 South Canyon Fire, also known as the Storm King Fire, on Storm King Mountain in Colorado, Vicki Minor launched a nationwide fundraiser, selling memorial t-shirts to support the families of the fallen. She initially sent the proceeds to an East Coast foundation, only to discover two years later that none of the families had received assistance. Determined to make sure no firefighter family was ever overlooked again, she founded the Wildland Firefighter Foundation in 1996.
What began as a grassroots mission to provide immediate financial support to families of firefighters killed or injured in the line of duty has since grown into a national nonprofit serving thousands. In 2000, the Foundation built the National Fallen Wildland Firefighters Monument to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The tragedy of South Canyon remains the catalyst for the Foundation’s enduring mission: ensuring no wildland firefighter or their family faces hardship alone.
Your trust matters to us. Learn how we carefully manage resources, maintain accountability, and uphold our mission to support wildland firefighters and their families. From financial reports to governance policies, we share it all to keep you informed.
