Petition for Adjustment of 2026 Fire Benefit Charge Assessment Voters approved a Fire Benefit Charge in 2024. A fire benefit charge is an annual fee that is based on a building’s size, use, and cost to defend in a fire. Smaller structures, such as single-family homes, are charged less than larger commercial or industrial buildings because it costs less to serve them during a fire or other emergency. The amount of your Benefit Charge can be found on the tax statement you recei