Since MnFIRE began just ten years ago, we’ve been a leading voice in promoting education around the health risks facing firefighters in Minnesota and across the country. Over the past decade, MnFIRE health and wellness trainings have reached firefighters in more than 84% of fire departments across the state, and we’re doing everything we can to continue moving the needle.
As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Spending time learning about increased risks for cardiac disease, emotional trauma and cancer at the start and throughout firefighters’ careers can lead to improved behaviors, and hopefully, better health outcomes over time. These behaviors include things like improving PPE decontamination procedures, regularly participating in cancer screenings, normalizing conversations around mental health and prioritizing diet and exercise.
State-compliant annual wellness training
In addition to helping improve the well-being of your department, MnFIRE training satisfies the annual wellness training requirement for public employers as defined in Minnesota Statute 299A.465, the public safety law which guarantees continued employer‑paid health insurance for firefighters and peace officers who are duty‑disabled by job‑related injuries. The MnFIRE Assistance Program and our Peer Support Program also satisfy additional requirements under the statute.
These resources are available at no cost to your department or city, making them easily accessible, regardless of if your department is volunteer, paid-on-call or career. So, let MnFIRE help you comply with these state requirements.
“Having [MnFIRE training] available as readily as it is, makes it super easy for us to get the same good benefits that other better-funded departments would have,” said Isanti Fire Chief Al Jankovich.
Make MnFIRE training an annual affair
If your department was an early adopter of MnFIRE training, or hosted a session more than a year ago, consider scheduling a refresher. MnFIRE training is available to your department on an annual basis, at no cost to you.
We consult with experienced medical experts to shape our training that’s taught by dedicated MnFIRE instructors, who are fellow firefighters. Our training curriculum gets updated regularly with the most current health and wellness information tailored to the fire service, so repeat MnFIRE trainings continue to be valuable for anyone who has already had it, and highly beneficial for any new recruits. Plus, we’ve added several new deep-dive trainings over the years, including sleep and fitness and nutrition classes, that are applicable for both career and volunteer departments.
“It’s imperative that your fire department gets MnFIRE training,” said Rothsay firefighter Travis Olson. “We have to embrace and encourage it. This isn’t just a fire service issue. It’s a community issue and a community service. If we aren’t on top of our game, what good are we to our community?”
MnFIRE training lets Minnesota firefighters take stock in their own health and learn how to better protect themselves against occupational health risks. It’s also another chance for firefighters to hear about the confidential support available to them 24/7 through the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program.
Diving in on mental health topics during training provides an open forum to connect with the instructor and colleagues in a safe environment. These annual reminders are important and possibly the nudge someone needs to reach out to a friend or professional if they’ve been struggling, and before it turns into a potential crisis situation.
The first step
Training is just the first step. Early education in combination with additional physical and mental health support through the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program gives Minnesota firefighters the best chance at having healthier and more productive firefighting careers and lives.
“MnFIRE gives us the tools to protect ourselves and keep safe and healthy long after we are done fighting fires,” says Albert Lea Fire Chief Jeffrey Laskowske.
Visit our training page for a complete list of our no-cost training offerings, and schedule a training for this calendar year. Departments can schedule at their convenience.
