Lee Co's Volunteer Firefighters Insured

Lee County will spend more than $50,000 over the next three years on accident and life insurance for its 300-plus volunteer firefighters.

The county's 18 fire departments include only one -- Tupelo -- where every staffer is paid.

Lee County Fire Coordinator David Homan says workmen's compensation would not cover volunteers' pay at their regular jobs if a firefighting accident kept them out of work.

The new policy includes a minimum $30,000 line-of-duty death benefit and up to $600 in weekly disability pay for up to five years.

Homan says volunteers answer about 6,000 calls a year. He says there have been few trgedies, but it's good to have insurance. He says Lee County may be able to use it to attract more volunteers.