What We Do

Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency (SAVE)

SAVE

The trauma experienced by fire survivors is unimaginable. Survivors often must flee their homes with nothing more than the clothes on their backs, and in the wake of a devastating fire, desperately need comfort and financial assistance. Easing that burden is what the California Fire Foundation’s Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency (SAVE) program is all about. It brings immediate, short-term relief to victims of home fires throughout California. 

The SAVE card is a $250 gift card given to *eligible survivors of fire and natural disasters by firefighters on scene who are enrolled 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. 

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 125 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. 

*One SAVE card issued per household that experiences 25% or greater damage to a primary residence.

**Please note that the California Fire Foundation does not distribute SAVE cards directly – SAVE cards are given to victims by participating fire departments and districts.