Firefighter Cancer and Cardiac Benefit Program

Who Qualifies

The following entities are eligible to receive reimbursement as “employers” under the Firefighter Cancer and Cardiac Benefits Program:

• A municipality that employs one or more covered individual,
• A special district that employs one or more covered individual,
• A fire authority that employs one or more covered individual, or
• A county improvement district that employs one or more covered individual,
• Or the Division of Fire Prevention and Control

To be qualified as a “covered individual” for purposes of the Firefighter Cancer and Cardiac Benefits Program, means a firefighter, part-time firefighter, or volunteer firefighter the individual must:

• Be an active employee of an employer,
• Be a full-time employee of an employer who regularly works at least one thousand six hundred (1600) hours in any calendar year,
• Perform duties that are directly involved with the provision of fire protection services, and
• Have at least five years of continuous full-time employment with an employer.
• Be a part-time employee of an employer who regularly works less than one thousand six hundred (1600) hours in any calendar year,
• Perform duties that are directly involved with the provision of fire protection services, and who is not a volunteer firefighter.
• Have at least five years of continuous, part-time or full-time employment with an employer.
• Be a volunteer firefighter as defined in section 31-30-1102 or an individual who provides volunteer services to a fire authority that is created by an
• An intergovernmental agreement that provides fire protection.
• A covered individual who is a volunteer firefighter must have at least five years of continuous service with the same employer.

The Reimbursement Process

Reimbursement Application Schedule

• First Application Period (NOW OPEN – October 31, 2025):
  This initial two-month period is currently open and reserved exclusively for volunteer and part-time organizations/departments.
  Applications must be submitted during this timeframe in order to be considered for the first wave of funding.
• Second Application Period (Reopens January 2026):
  Beginning in January, applications will reopen to all firefighters, including full-time employees.
  This application window will remain open until June 30, 2026 (the end of the fiscal year), or until all available funds have been allocated.

Fiscal Year 2026 Firefighter Cancer and Cardiac Benefits Reimbursement

The Fiscal Year 2026 Firefighter Cancer and Cardiac Benefits Reimbursement Applications will open in the Grants Portal in September 2025. Applications will close briefly at the end of October to allow prioritization and will reopen in January, remaining open until June 30, 2026.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Firefighter Cancer and Cardiac Benefits Online Reimbursement Instructions prior to applying to ensure a smooth and successful process.

DOLA Grants Portal

The DOLA Grants Portal serves as a platform for communities to apply for DOLA funding, submit reimbursement requests, and upload necessary documents. To be considered for reimbursement, you must apply through the Grants Portal. If you do not yet have a Grants Portal account, instructions for setting up an account can be found below.

Grants Portal Login

Forms and Resources

• Program Guidelines
• Program Frequently Asked Questions
• How to Request Access to an Organization

Current Allocation (State Fiscal Year 2026)

State Fiscal Year Allocation Total

• $1,300,00.00

Amount Requested by Firefighter Heart and Circulatory Malfunction Benefits Employers

This amount contains the total of all reimbursement requests that have been received and fully reviewed. 

• $0

Amount Approved

This amount contains the total of all reimbursement requests that have been approved for payment or are pending payment.

• $0

Remaining Balance

• $0

Program Contact

Chris Ockwig
Program Manager
720-795-8434
Chris.ockwig@state.co.us

Alacia Isom
Program Assistant
720-766-4999
alacia.isom@state.co.us