Sometimes the injured worker is a volunteer who's department does not have insurance to cover medical care. By the time those individuals seek our care, they have become financially drained and are unable to pay many or sometimes, all of their bills. Family members that have lost a loved one in the line of duty, are sometimes also put into the situation of being financially strained. Insurance, donated funds, and pensions run out. Sometimes those don't even exist because a department is either too small or they too have financial hardships and are unable to care for the family.
Departments suffer financial blows as well.
Fire Departments have ironically fallen victim to fires and have lost all of their equipment. Earthquakes, tornadoes, and floods also can wipe out a whole department. When that department is minimally funded, it can be a struggle just to rebuild. Towns have been known to have to utilize other town fire departments because theirs has been destroyed. The Phoenix Fund cares for all of these financial needs.