SAVE
Immediate Relief and Recovery
Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency (SAVE)
Survivors of fire & other natural disasters often flee their homes with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. In the wake of a devastating disaster the California Fire Foundation’s Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency (SAVE) program helps ease the burden and brings immediate relief & recovery to survivors.
The SAVE card is a $250 cash card given to eligible households by firefighters from agencies that participate in the SAVE program. This allows survivors to purchase basic necessities such as food, clothing, gas, medicine, or a place to stay the night in the immediate aftermath of a house fire.
SAVE cards are ONLY distributed though an in-person disaster relief response or through participating agencies:
- Our participating agencies are fire departments and fire districts throughout the state of California
- A disaster relief response distribution of SAVE cards will occur when the California Fire Foundation has declared eligible response to a disaster
- When there is a widespread disaster in California*, the California Fire Foundation will distribute SAVE cards to affected households in person within the impacted community. SAVE cards criteria eligibility must be done in person in times of disaster.
- SAVE cards can ONLY be given in person during the response.
- SAVE cards are not eligible for in person pick up in our office.
MID & LONG-TERM WILDFIRE & DISASTE RELIEF:
Following the unprecedented devastation of the many catastrophic wildfires & disasters, the California Fire Foundation recognizes the need to provide ongoing, mid- and long-term support to the communities affected by disaster through our grant program for the organizations working on the ground in impacted areas.
By working closely with these organizations to assess ongoing needs and effective funding strategies, the Foundation provides direct and continued line of support to the Californians who are still living with the impacts of devastating wildfires & disasters. Offering support and help long after the cameras have stopped rolling.
FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND DISTRICTS:
As the first line of protection during disaster, firefighters are on the scene witnessing first-hand the shock and devastation of victims as fire or natural disaster rocks their world. The SAVE program is administered directly by participating fire departments across California each day.
The SAVE program is available to any officially organized fire department or fire protection district and runs at no cost to them. The Foundation offers training materials and works with fire departments to help roll out this vital program giving fire departments and districts the opportunity to help victims in their own community.
Our partnering fire departments are in a unique position to not only be the first line of protection during disaster but by offering the SAVE cards to victims, they are also the first to offer hope in their darkest hour. To date, over 126 departments across the state of California are participating in this vital program.
RESOURCES FOR PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS can be found here.
For more information on your department or district joining the SAVE program click here or contact the California Fire Foundation at save@cpf.org or (916) 641-1707.
*The SAVE (Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency) program is only available in California and is distributed in person by participating California-based fire departments. Beware of any sites claiming that this program is available in every state. SAVE is not affiliated with any organizations outside of California.