this article has multiple issues . please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page . learn how and when to remove these template messages this article contains content that is written like an advertisement . please help improve it by removing promotional content and inappropriate external links and by adding encyclopedic content written from a neutral point of view . august 2011 learn how and when to remove this template message the neutrality of this article is disputed . relevant discussion may be found on the talk page . please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met . january 2014 learn how and when to remove this template message this article needs to be updated . please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information . may 2016 learn how and when to remove this template message fireman s fund insurance company type subsidiary industry insurance founded 1863 headquarters petaluma california united states key people andrew torrance president & ceo products insurance number of employees 2 850 parent allianz website www.firemansfund.com fireman s fund insurance company based in novato california provides personal and commercial property and casualty insurance products in the united states . the company is a principal u.s. subsidiary of allianz a global financial services company the 20th largest corporation in the world based on revenue fortune global 500 august 2010 . allianz se employs nearly 155 000 people worldwide . fireman s fund offers a ranging portfolio of coverage including personal auto homeowners excess and collections insurance for high net worth clients . commercial insurance products include entertainment business office policies workers compensation general professional and excess liability auto and farm and ranch coverage . contents 1 history 2 timeline 3 financial strength ratings 4 business model 5 u.s. based sister organizations 6 charitable giving 7 into the fire 8 see also 9 references 10 external links history edit fireman s fund insurance company was founded in 1863 in san francisco . its name reflects its founding mission in which 10 percent of profits were paid to the widows and orphans of fallen firefighters . today the company continues a similar social mission through its heritage program in which it provides millions of dollars citation needed each year in grants for equipment training and educational programs to local fire departments across the united states . 1 since its inception fireman s fund has insured some of america s notable landmarks and inventions including the golden gate bridge and the spirit of st. louis . fireman s fund is the largest insurer and underwriter in the hollywood film industry insuring motion picture productions since the silent film era . the company also underwrites reality television shows concerts and special events . its largest film insurance payout was a 15 million claim after star john candy died during production of the 1994 film wagons east . 2 timeline edit this section includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations . please help to improve this section by introducing more precise citations . january 2014 learn how and when to remove this template message 1863 ship captain william holdredge founded fireman s fund insurance company in san francisco . its first policy was one half interest in 1 000 kegs of boston syrup . the premium was 12 cash in advance . 1871 the company paid all of its claims from the great chicago fire about a half million dollars worth within 60 days nearly wiping out all of the company s capital . 1905 the company had roughly 6 000 independent agents . 1906 fireman s fund was the first company to provide nationwide auto insurance . 1906 san francisco earthquake destroyed fireman s fund s headquarters and all records but it was able to pay all policyholder claims with a combination of cash and stock . claims were taken on their word as all insurance documents were destroyed . 1920s insured the first movies with sound . since then the company has insured movies ranging from top gun to the the lord of the rings trilogy and is currently the largest insurer of hollywood films . 1927 insured charles lindbergh s spirit of st. louis . 1936 the company grew to 1 500 employees and about 10 000 independent agents . 1953 moved its headquarters to a modern facility in san francisco s laurel heights neighborhood . 1957 premium income topped 300 million . 1968 american express acquired fireman s fund . early 1980s outgrew its space in san francisco and moved the headquarters north to novato california 1984 insured the abc telecast of the 1984 olympics . 1985 fireman s fund was sold off by american express and became an independent company . 1991 allianz ag acquired fireman s fund . 2001 all of the company s 109 new york employees located in the south tower of the world trade center survived the terrorist attack . 2004 fireman s fund launched the heritage program a recommitment of its founding philanthropic mission to support the fire service . grants are given to local fire departments to help purchase new equipment tools and training . 2006 created the first green insurance products in the united states . financial strength ratings edit fireman s fund has received some of the highest financial strength ratings available from standard & poor s a.m. best and moody s. these ratings were affirmed in may 2011 . excellent a rating from the a.m. best company excellent a rating from standard & poor s good a2 from moody s the role of each rating agency is to inform policyholders about the ability of a company to pay claims both short term and long term . business model edit fireman s fund works with independent agents and brokers and is powered by two primary business units commercial insurance includes agribusiness and personal insurance . commercial insurance offers businesses and organizations risk management by providing admitted and non admitted solutions customized products for a variety of industries and program business for small to mid sized affinity programs . personal insurance for high net worth and affluent customers includes home auto valuables excess liability art wine and jewelry collections yacht and watercraft . fireman s fund has provided farm and ranch insurance for american farmers since 1876 owner occupied family farms and larger scale agricultural operations for ranchers farmers and dairy owners . fireman s fund was the first insurer in the united states to offer green insurance coverage for both personal and commercial lines starting in 2006 . u.s. based sister organizations edit allianz global investors pacific investment management company allianz life insurance company of north america allianz global assistance charitable giving edit fireman s fund insurance company was founded with a mission to support the widows and orphans of fallen firefighters . over the years the company s charitable giving has transitioned into an effort of prevention and safety . today through the company s self titled heritage program fireman s fund awards grants to u.s. fire departments for equipment training and community education programs . some grants are also given to fire and burn prevention organizations . since 2004 fireman s fund has donated more than 28 million to over 1 800 local fire departments across the country . independent insurance agents brokers that sell fireman s fund products direct these grants to support fire stations in their communities . company employees can also nominate fire departments for grants . fireman s fund has won numerous corporate responsibility awards for this grant program including the 2008 american business award for best corporate social responsibility program . into the fire edit fireman s fund was integral in putting together into the fire a documentary which originally aired on the history channel in 2005 . the film is now available on dvd and the company has offered programs to sell the dvd with a portion of the proceeds going back to the fire service . see also edit paysage bords de seine references edit grant funds training tool for itasca firefighters . the chicago tribune . 31 july 2013 . retrieved 28 august 2013 . richard verrier film insurer s goal is to keep cameras rolling los angeles times september 4 2013 . fortune global 500 list 2009 . cnn . a.m. best rating www.ambest.com ratings standard and poor s rating www.standardandpoors.com ratings en us moody s rating www.moodys.com external links edit official site fireman s fund insurance www.ffic.com allianz se official site www.allianz.com supporting fire services www.firemansfund.com heritage insurance information institute www.iii.org insurance institute for business and home safety www.ibhs.org retrieved from https en.wikipedia.org w index.php title fireman % 27s fund insurance 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