For many, the holidays are a time of togetherness and celebration. Yet for firefighters, the season often brings unique challenges that can lead to stress. From missing family moments due to being on call to managing tough calls during the festive season, it’s important to prioritize your mental and emotional well-being during this busy time...Read More
Contributed by Nicholas E. Blonien, D.O. As tactical athletes, firefighters require premium fuel for optimal performance. Their shifts bring a range of physiological stressors, from sleep disruption and intense bursts of physical activity to prolonged time on scene in full turnout gear, temperature extremes, and even periods of downtime. This variability makes proper nutrition challenging,...Read More
Contributed by Nicholas E. Blonien, D.O. Hitting a hot sauna may be a daunting thought after fighting a fire for hours, but it could help clear toxicants from the body and boost cardiovascular health. While utilizing sauna therapy for enhancing the clearance of toxic chemicals and cancer-causing compounds is still being studied, the cardiovascular benefits...Read More
Every year since 2011, hundreds of people have gathered on the grounds of the State Capitol on the last Sunday of September for a solemn ceremony to remember the Minnesota firefighters who have died in the line of duty. Yesterday, MnFIRE representatives joined others in the fire service, dignitaries including Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, family...Read More
Contributed by MnFIRE Mental Health Director Melinda Coscarelli, PhD, LPCC, LADC According to the Minnesota Department of Health, recent data shows more than 800 Minnesotans die by suicide every year. In Minnesota’s fire service, research by the National Alliance on Mental Illness tells us that nearly 50% of firefighters are currently experiencing or have experienced...Read More
The Minnesota Firefighter Initiative (MnFIRE) Board of Directors has named Rebecca Otto the new Executive Director of MnFIRE. With a breadth of experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors, Rebecca is well-positioned to help strengthen MnFIRE and further its mission supporting Minnesota’s 20,000 firefighters and their families. Rebecca joined MnFIRE’s team in May 2024...Read More
We hope you’ll join all of us in congratulating Wayne Kewitsch as he retires as MnFIRE executive director. He’s been serving the state’s fire service in this role since January 2021, always with an eye towards taking care of our firefighters just as they take care of our communities. And, he’s made sure of that...Read More
Contributed by Nicholas E. Blonien, D.O. Firefighting is stressful, taxing the body and mind in unique ways. Firefighters experience stress while anticipating the next call, upon waking to the alarm in the middle of the night, during work on scene and after tough calls. Stress 101 Stress is the result of nervous system activation, specifically...Read More
Contributed by MnFIRE Mental Health Director Melinda Coscarelli, PhD, LPCC, LADC Summer is a popular time for outdoor gatherings and celebrations with friends and family. So many of these social events, parties and get-togethers will have alcoholic beverages at the ready. Let’s face it: we live in a culture that likes to drink! But how do...Read More
Contributed by Nicholas E. Blonien, D.O. Research and firefighter wellness initiatives, like the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative (MnFIRE), have worked hard to spotlight the pervasive occupational stressors across the fire service: shiftwork, fatigue, hazardous exposures, psychosocial trauma and more. Collectively, these stressors increase the risk for injury, cardiometabolic disease, cancer and mental illness. While awareness and...Read More
