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MN Firefighter Initiative

3 weeks ago

What are you doing this Friday Night?

Thank you for supporting MnFIRE by attending our charity event this Friday, June 7th from 5-9pm at the Chanhassen AutoPlex. There is still time to invite your friends. We ask that you have them RSVP via eventbrite, Facebook IM or comments to this post or email to have an accurate headcount for food planning.

Address: Chanhassen AutoPlex, 1740 Motorplex Court, Chanhassen, MN 55317. The gate will be open for you. Once through the gate, take your 2nd right turn to get to the Clubhouse.

Timeline of Event
5 to 5:15 p.m.- Registration - Bar opens from 5 to 8 p.m. & Silent Auction starts
5:15 to 6:30 p.m.- Dinner at your charity unit
6:30 - Garages open
7:40- Garages close
7:45- Dessert at clubhouse
8:00 p.m. - Silent Auction ends and Hero Awards Presentation

Questions? Please email gcalistro@mnfireinitiative.com or call 612.309.4462

Attire: Casual -This is the ultimate Man Cave experience - except ladies and kids of all ages are welcome! ... See MoreSee Less

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MN Firefighter Initiative

3 weeks ago

A heartfelt and well written article by Retired Rochester Fire Chief, Greg Martin.

Please contact your Minnesota House & Senate members and ask them to support the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program legislation in the 2020 session.

Together we can begin to put an end to the preventable and treatable issues facing Minnesota Firefighters. ... See MoreSee Less

It's time to protect firefighters from health risks

postbulletin.com

There is an escalating crisis in the Minnesota fire service — one that is costing firefighters their lives. The high incidence of illness — particularly cardiac, cancer and mental health

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MN Firefighter Initiative

4 weeks ago

A huge THANK YOU to the Hibbing Daily Tribune and journalist Carrie Manner for the coverage of the challenges facing Minnesota Firefighters.

If you’re a firefighter or a person who supports firefighters use this summer and fall to contact your local legislators and ask the to commit to supporting the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program!

Please share this article liberally with all of your social media outlets. Only by creating a movement of demanding change will change happen!

WHO WILL FUND OUR HEROES? MINNESOTA RANKS 45TH IN FIRE SERVICE FUNDING
By Carrie Manner Staff Writer cmanner@hibbingdailytribune.net 9 hrs ago 0

Minnesota Firefighter Initiative

Editor’s note: This is Part 2 of a two-part report.

HIBBING — A $500,000 grant awarded to the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative — also known as MnFIRE — in October 2018 runs out June 30. The money has been mobilizing a training campaign called “MnFIRE Aware” designed to drum up awareness for firefighter health risks.

George Esbensen, a retired fire chief and the current president of MnFIRE, is one of the three fire service workers who helped form the organization in the Twin Cities in 2017.

“It’s really born out of a 32-year career in the fire service and going to a lot of funerals of colleagues and retirees and active fire fighters around the issues of cancer, cardiac and emotional trauma,” Esbensen told the Hibbing Daily Tribune earlier this month. “Those three things are all linked. We saw there’s a need for education, and we also need to take care of people and focus on prevention. Prevention is the key.”

MnFIRE provides tools and shares resources for firefighters statewide.

But step one involves spreading the word about these services and, as of last week, nearly half of the 700 fire departments statewide have yet to receive the training. Any unused funds left over from the $500,000 grant will become inaccessible unless refunded.

Esbensen remarked that the grant has been a “great start,” but it barely scratches the surface of funding needed.

“That’s a one time training. If you’re going to change a culture, it’s going to take more exposure than that,” he said. “We need to get refunded and pick up the other half of the firefighters and make it an ongoing service of awareness.”

Esbensen also said their free, peer-support hotline is busier than it’s ever been. And that’s a good sign.

The hotline is monitored by more than 60 active and retired firefighters and connects first responders who are struggling with emotional trauma to an anonymous peer trained to provide support. Margaret Gavian, Ph.D., is the licensed psychologist who oversees the emotional wellness program. She has witnessed firsthand the need for additional funding— not for awareness training but for the fire service in general. “We definitely need funding—desperately,” Gavian told the HDT.

Hometown Heroes Assistance

According to a press release provided by MnFIRE, more than 12 percent of firefighters in Minnesota will develop heart disease and more than 68 percent will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime. Meanwhile, more than 93 percent of in-state firefighters are non-career or volunteers and most lack access to an Employee Assistance Program.

In attempts to remedy such issues, State Sen. Steve Cwodzinski, DFL-Eden Prairie, joined Rep. Cheryl Youakin, DFL-St. Paul in introducing companion bills earlier this year in the Minnesota Legislature.

The measures called the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program aimed to complement existing medical coverage while filling the financial gaps caused by “out-of-pocket-expenses or treatment not covered by firefighter’s medical plans.”

If passed, the “gap coverage” would provide up to a one-time, lump-sum grant of up to $30,000 for all 22,000 career and volunteer firefighters statewide with a cardiac or cancer diagnosis, paid benefits regardless of what is covered by medical insurance, and a customized EAP to treat emotional trauma through free mental health counseling. According to the MnFIRE press release, it would also give a boost to firefighter awareness training within the service and outside it, targeting medical doctors and mental health professionals so first responders have regional access to people specialized in the unique needs of firefighters.

MnFIRE also estimated the program would create $11.03 million in return on EAP investment.

Friday afternoon, Esbensen confirmed that the measure did not pass in either the Senate or House.

While previously reflecting on legislative progress— or lack thereof— he aired his frustration, stating “nobody wanted to have a hearing on it because it carries a fiscal note of about $7 million,” a number he insisted barely moves the needle of what’s needed.

“The sad untold story of Minnesota is that we rate 21st in population and 12th largest in area, but we’re 45th in the nation in our investment in the fire service,” Esbensen said. “It’d take 15 million just to get to 44th.”

Describing the monetary aspect as “heart-wrenching,” Esbensen estimated the lack of funding is symptomatic of a lack of a support for firefighters in general.

“Everyone wants to call them heroes but no one wants to take care of them,” he said. “We’re counting on them to be at our worst days while being on their best. ...We have a terrible record of helping firefighters in Minnesota. It’s shameful.”

Though not passed, Esbensen said Friday that the bill is expected to be reintroduced during the next legislative session. Firefighters will now take time to focus on garnering enough support to change the outcome the next time around.

“We encourage people who support firefighters to call your legislators and support the people who support us in the 2020 session,” Esbensen said. ... See MoreSee Less

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MN Firefighter Initiative

1 month ago

A full dining room of golfers enjoying a great meal, friendships and silent auction items.

Today’s event raised approximately $50,000!

Thank you to our golfers and sponsors and volunteers for incredible support and hard work! ... See MoreSee Less

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MN Firefighter Initiative

1 month ago

Lots of great sponsors including these three fire service organizations.

Thank you to all our sponsors and golfers! ... See MoreSee Less

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