FIREMAN'S FUND INSURANCE COMPANY launches nationwide fire service survey

NOVATO, Calif. (Jan. 28, 2009) - After hearing from fire departments across the country facing increased budget challenges, Fireman's Fund Insurance Company is sponsoring an on-line survey to gather data on the challenges faced by fire departments in different regions of the country. The result will be a comprehensive snapshot of today's fire service, providing detailed insight and showing trends.

The electronic survey will ask questions to gauge how the current economic crisis is affecting departments and what equipment and resources departments are lacking. The survey results will be a tool for the fire service to educate the public, as well as guide and support the grant program at Fireman's Fund®.

The survey can found at www.ipsosresearch.com/FireService or through the www.firemansfund.com/heritage Web site starting on February 16 and running though March 2009. Results are expected to be announced nationwide in May.

All members of the fire service are encouraged to participate in the survey which will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. The more people who participate, the more thorough the results will be. As a special thanks for taking the time to do the survey, all participants will be eligible to receive one of 10 handcrafted, leather Fireman's Fund fire helmets - a reproduction from the 1880s.

Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, the survey's sponsor, has directed grants in conjunction with its independent insurance agents and employees to fire departments across the country since 2004. The company has donated more than $21 million to over 1,000 different fire departments.

"We strongly believe that supporting the local fire service is the best way to make local communities safer," said Danielle Cagan, senior director of the Heritage ProgramSM for Fireman's Fund. "The results of this survey will be made available to the fire service and used to try and direct positive change."

About Fireman's Fund®
Fireman's Fund Insurance Company is a premier property and casualty insurance company providing personal and commercial insurance products nationwide. It is rated 'AA-' by Standard & Poor's Rating Services. Founded in 1863 with a mission to support firefighters, Fireman's Fund continues this effort today through its national philanthropic work. Fireman's Fund is a member of the Allianz Group (NYSE: AZ), one of the world's largest providers of insurance and other financial services. For more information, visit www.firemansfund.com.