The MnFIRE team is gearing up for the 2022 MnFORE Golf Tournament on Monday, July 25 – and we hope you’ll join us!

The golf tournament will be held at the Bearpath Golf & Country Club in Eden Prairie on the luxurious Jack Nicklaus Signature Course. All proceeds benefit MnFIRE, which provides Minnesota’s firefighters with the tools they need to prioritize and protect their health by focusing on the three health problems most commonly experienced by those in the fire service: cardiac, cancer and emotional trauma.

MnFORE funds important programs designed to help firefighters and their families. Your registration fee includes the following:

• 18-Hole round of golf
• Cart
• Boxed lunch
• Happy Hour
• Plated dinner
• And MORE!

Register yourself or a foursome here. Non-foursome groups and single golfers are welcome – we will pair golfers for an afternoon of fun. Golfer spots are filling up fast, so register today!

While numerous amazing organizations have already stepped up to sponsor the event, there are still opportunities for businesses and individuals to sponsor this year’s golf tournament benefitting Minnesota firefighters. Check out our full list of sponsorship levels and opportunities.

If you have any questions regarding the event, or if you would like to volunteer or donate, or become a sponsor, please contact Gina Calistro by phone at (612) 309-4462 or email, gcalistro@mnfireinitiative.com.

International Firefighters’ Day is observed each year on May 4. Born out of a tragic loss of five firefighters in a wildfire in Victoria, Australia, this day was created to honor their lives, as well as firefighters around the world.

This International Firefighters’ Day, we recognize and honor the sacrifices firefighters make across the globe, and especially those here at home in Minnesota, to ensure their communities are safe. Thank you for all you do!

We also want to honor the firefighters who have been lost in the line of duty or passed on before us – many due to the occupational hazards of cardiovascular disease, suicide and cancer.

We value the work and contributions our volunteer and career firefighters dedicate to our communities every day. As we reflect on that, we know investing in their health and well-being is a moral imperative!

In Minnesota, we can show our support and appreciation to firefighters at home by making sure they have all of the physical and mental health resources they need to prioritize and protect their health, and prevent and/or tackle cardiovascular disease, emotional trauma and cancer.

Thankfully, the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program is now here to provide free resources for all of Minnesota’s active firefighters – volunteer, paid-on-call, part-time and full-time. These vital resources include:

• The MnFIRE Assistance Program, offering expanded emotional trauma resources for firefighters and their families, including five counseling visits a year and peer support.
• An up-to-$20,000 Critical Illness insurance policy which covers diagnoses of cancer, cardiac and other critical illnesses.
• Ongoing health and wellness training on the different health risks facing firefighters.

We invite you to honor and support your local firefighters today by making sure they’re aware of these important – and completely free – health resources.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for two days of educational and inspiring firefighter health conversations at the Firefighter Health Forum! This inaugural symposium gathered medical and mental health experts and fire service leaders from across the state. We’re so thankful to all who attended for sharing their stories and engaging with our speakers.

Dr. David Griffin, assistant chief of administration in Charleston, South Carolina, kicked off the event with his keynote speech, “Wake Up!” Dr. Griffin was the operator of the first due engine on June 18, 2007, when nine of his fellow firefighters perished in the disastrous Charleston Sofa Super Store fire. In his presentation, he shared his personal account of that day and the aftermath of coping without any formal mental health supports in place. This incident was the catalyst for a lot of organizational changes in the fire service across the country, but that didn’t happen overnight.

Dr. Griffin’s experience serves as a powerful reminder that when your mind is injured, you need to treat it as seriously and carefully as any physical injury to get better and get back to your work and life. He spoke about how we all need to “wake up” to make real cultural change in the fire service around supporting both mental and physical health to do our jobs safely and effectively. Firefighting is a job that will affect you for the rest of your life, and to change a culture, the hearts and minds of the members must be affected – from the bottom to the top.

In breakout sessions, we tackled important subjects for mental health providers supporting their firefighter clients – like the biggest health concerns in firefighting, the psyche of firefighters, how to keep firefighters engaged in the treatment process, what types of screenings are appropriate for firefighters and more. Fire service leaders and peer supporters learned about how to access new Hometown Heroes Assistance Program (HHAP) resources, helping fellow firefighters and their families through personal and professional challenges, implementing well-being strategies in their departments and more.

These sessions taught us that we can make a lasting impact on fellow firefighters and firefighter patients, supporting them so they can do their jobs safely, continue to help their communities and come home to their families at the end of the day.

At the event banquet, Gov. Tim Walz shared a video message with the fire service leaders, firefighters, peer supporters and mental health professionals in attendance about his support for the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program. “We must do everything we can to make sure our firefighters are healthy and safe in their workplaces, and that they have what they need to heal and live long lives,” Walz said.

Thanks to everyone who made the Firefighter Health Forum come to life, including Dr. David Griffin, Dr. Melinda Coscarelli, Dr. Margaret Gavian, Dr. Zeke McKinney, Tammy Huf, Dean Salita and Mary Beth Boyce from Schmidt & Salita Law Team, Rochelle Hawthorne, Joe Meuwissen, Chief Mike Dobesh, Chief Andrew Heger and Deputy Chief Jeremie Baker.

As firefighters, we’re in training mode for life, so thank you to all who attended for taking the time to learn more about protecting and supporting the health and well-being of firefighters. We hope to see you next year!

Christian Worby, a firefighter for the Coon Rapids Fire Department, at first thought the pain in his side he started experiencing in summer 2020 was a fractured rib. The 42-year-old didn’t seek medical attention because he figured the treatment plan for such a break is allowing it to heal on its own; however, when the pain continued off and on for over a year, Christian knew something else was wrong.

In October 2021, a biopsy revealed Christian had multiple myeloma, a non-curable cancer of the plasma cells. It is a situation becoming all too familiar with firefighters across the state. According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 68% of all firefighters will develop some form of cancer in their lifetimes, a rate much higher than the general U.S. population.

Thankfully for firefighters in Minnesota, the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program (HHAP), the most comprehensive firefighter well-being legislation in the nation, passed through the legislature last year. The HHAP offers financial support for cancer diagnoses through the MnFIRE Critical Illness program, which provides a lump-sum cash payment up to $20,000 to assist with expenses. The Critical Illness benefit also covers diagnoses of cardiac, COVID-19 and other critical illnesses. Christian said this program has allowed his family to focus on treatment rather than financial worry due to the cancer diagnosis.

In addition to maxing out their deductible, the Worby family has been paying out of pocket for gas money to travel to weekly appointments at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, along with accommodations while away from home and receiving treatment. Plus, Christian will not have enough sick time to cover the minimum of six weeks he is away while having chemotherapy treatment and a stem cell transplant. The Critical Illness program can help with all of these extra expenses.

“I was blown away when I heard about [the Critical Illness program],” Christian said.

Christian thought submitting a claim for the Critical Illness program was an easy process. After making a phone call, creating an account and sending in paperwork, his application was approved.

“It’s great having the extra financial support,” Christian said. “It’s an extra safety net. It’s an expensive deal having a major illness.”

For five months after his diagnosis, Christian was able to continue working while doing a mild chemotherapy treatment. At the beginning of April, Christian started an intensive six-week chemotherapy treatment and stem cell transplant, which requires him to stay in Rochester.

“They take my stem cells out to keep them safe and then give me a traditional high dose of beat-the-heck-out-of-you chemo,” he said. “Then they slowly give me my stem cells back and let my body figure out which way is up again.”

To show support, fellow Coon Rapids Fire Department firefighters shaved their heads the day before Christian began his treatment, a moment highlighted on KARE 11 recently.

While multiple myeloma is found in the general population, it is found more often in firefighters. Only 20% of the cases found are discovered in those under the age of 50.

“Because I’m so young it wouldn’t surprise me if being a firefighter was a contributing factor,” Christian said.

While Christian knows the cancer is not curable, it is treatable. And Christian wants to fight the illness to gain as much time as possible to share time with his wife and together watch their two young sons – ages 7 and 2 – grow.

“For some people, it’s aggressive cancer, and some people, it’s not, so I just cross my fingers and remember I’m comparatively young,” he said.

While the diagnosis is challenging for his family, he is thankful for the HHAP.

“We’re very fortunate in Minnesota we’ve had people working on [the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program], and that we have it available to us,” Christian said. “It’s a smooth application process and if you qualify and you heard about it, then why wouldn’t you apply? It would be really unfortunate if someone was able to apply for this assistance but had no idea it existed.”

Christian was also recently interviewed by WCCO about these new HHAP resources.

All Minnesota firefighters have been automatically enrolled in this statewide Critical Illness insurance policy. To learn more about the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program or to file a claim, visit mnfireinitiative.com/hhap.

We’re just a few weeks away from the Firefighter Health Forum on April 22-23 at the JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America. This exclusive symposium will gather cardiac, cancer and mental health experts and fire service leaders from across the country to share the latest information, in-depth research and techniques related to firefighter health.

There are four distinct tracks available, each specifically designed for Minnesota fire service leaders, medical providers, mental health providers and peer supporters. The complete event schedule has been announced – view it here.

Medical and mental health providers can earn up to 6.0 CME credits for attending important sessions about the biggest health concerns in firefighting, the psyche of firefighters, how to keep firefighters engaged in the treatment process, what types of screenings are appropriate for firefighters and more. After all, it’s crucial that our mental health and primary care providers have the knowledge, skills and tools to treat the unique concerns of Minnesota’s 20,000 firefighters.

Fire service leaders and peer supporters will learn about how to access new Hometown Heroes Assistance Program (HHAP) resources, helping fellow firefighters and their families through personal and professional challenges, implementing well-being strategies and more. The peer supporter track is offered at no cost and participation supports MnFIRE’s peer supporter ongoing education.

We’re excited to announce Dr. David Griffin as our keynote speaker!

Dr. Griffin was the driver of the first engine to respond to the disastrous 2007 Charleston Sofa Super Store fire that claimed the lives of nine of his fellow firefighters. Since then, he has become a dynamic motivational speaker and has dedicated his life to spreading his knowledge of organizational learning and leadership.

Other event speakers include Dr. Melinda Coscarelli, medical director of the MnFIRE Assistance Program Provider Network, Dr. Margaret Gavian, medical director of MnFIRE Peer Support, Dr. Zeke McKinney, HealthPartners occupational & environmental medicine specialist, and more. All of these experts have worked directly with Minnesota first responders on complex mental and physical health issues related to their time on the job, from cancer and cardiac disease to PTSD. Learn more about our event speakers here.

Register today for 25% off

There’s still time to register for this exclusive educational and networking symposium dedicated to firefighter health. Sign up now through April 1 for 25% off registration – use discount code “FHF25” at checkout. Click here to register. We’ll see you there!

In July 2021, the state legislature passed the most comprehensive firefighter well-being legislation in the nation. The bipartisan Hometown Heroes Assistance Program (HHAP) dedicates $4 million per year to ensure that every Minnesota firefighter will have access to the education, prevention and care needed to handle a cardiac, emotional trauma or cancer diagnosis.

We are so thankful to the bipartisan group of legislators and fire service leaders who took action to make this happen. Over the past few months, we have had the privilege of recognizing the legislators who were instrumental in passing the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program with our highest honor – commemorative bronze axes.

A token of our gratitude, these axes commemorate their leadership in the fight for firefighter health and wellness. The legislators awarded with, or soon to be awarded with, commemorative axes include:

• Senate HHAP Co-Author Senator Steve Cwodzinski (D – 48)
• Senator Paul Gazelka (R – 09)
• Senate HHAP Author Senator Jeff Howe (R – 13)
• Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller (R – 28)
• House Speaker Melissa Hortman (D – 36B)
• House Public Safety Chair Representative Carlos Mariani (D – 65B)
• House HHAP Author Representative Cheryl Youakim (D – 46B)

Thanks to the generosity of the Minnesota Legislature, 20,000 volunteer, paid-on-call, part-time and full-time firefighters across the state have an opportunity to deeply benefit from these new resources.

This major milestone for firefighter health combines three vital elements: an assistance program with expanded emotional trauma resources, an up-to-$20,000 critical illness policy, and ongoing health and wellness training. All active Minnesota firefighters – volunteer, paid-on-call, part-time and full-time – can access the MnFIRE Assistance Program, are automatically enrolled in the Critical Illness insurance policy and can receive training – all at no cost.

Minnesota firefighters can receive help for a crisis, find out more information or file a claim by calling 888-784-6634 or visiting mnfireinitiative.com/hhap/.

MnFIRE is proud to present the inaugural Firefighter Health Forum, a gathering of cardiac, cancer and mental health experts and fire service leaders to share the latest information, in-depth research and techniques related to firefighter health. This new event will create local and national opportunities for collaboration.

On the heels of the Minnesota legislature passing the most comprehensive firefighter well-being legislation in the nation, the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program, comes this first-ever educational forum specifically focused on protecting and supporting Minnesota firefighter health.

Join us in April!

This important and exclusive two-day symposium will take place April 22-23, 2022, at the JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America. The forum will feature four distinct tracks for fire service leaders, medical providers, mental health providers and peer supporters.

Stay tuned for more details, including registration information, session topics and more. If you have any questions in the meantime, contact MnFIRE’s Director of Program Delivery DeeDee Jankovich at djankovich@mnfireinitiative.com or call 888-784-6634.

As people in the fire service and their families know all too well, firefighters are exposed to unimaginable scenes of pain and suffering on the job. That traumatic stress can pile up over time, so much so that approximately half of all firefighters think about wanting to die, according to the International Association of Fire Fighters.

Although many of our brothers and sisters need help, there is a deep-rooted belief that others outside of the fire service just don’t get it. Getting help from someone who has experienced the same struggles can make all the difference, and that’s where MnFIRE peer supporters come in.

MnFIRE peer supporters are here to provide confidential support to those experiencing personal, emotional or work-related problems, while acting as a bridge to outside professional services. Our Peer Support Program allows firefighters to talk with a peer supporter who has been in their shoes, and understands the emotional challenges unique to firefighting.

“I love helping other firefighters — helping them put a name to an invisible demon, especially when it comes to trauma and PTSD,” said one peer supporter. “The follow-up texts that I receive from the ones who say, ‘You saved my life,’ make me realize there was a reason I went through what I went through. I now know my work matters.”

Connect with a Peer Supporter

If you’re in crisis or need help, please call our 24-hour hotline: 888-784-6634. This confidential, free service is available for all active volunteer, paid-on-call, part-time and full-time Minnesota firefighters. Phone lines are answered 24/7 and provide confidential support, guidance and mental health resources.

Become a Peer Supporter

MnFIRE is currently building an extensive peer supporter network to help all members of the fire family – and we want you to join us in this important work! We’re currently recruiting:

• Chief/command staff peers
• Active/retired peers
• Full-time/paid-on-call/volunteer peers
• Spouse/family peers

To become a peer supporter, you will need to attend a Peer Support training class. Our next training will take place March 12-13, 2022. Mental health professionals and senior peer supporters will give you the tools to help those in need and walk with them as they find their way back to living their best life.

Want to know more? See our Peer Support frequently asked questions. Register for the upcoming training here.

MnFIRE acts as a crisis intervention peer support program. When someone calls in need of someone to talk to when working through a tough time, the Peer Support team connects them with a peer. As a peer supporter, you will share your experiences, recommendations or tools that have worked for you to get through your own challenges. Professional resources are also available if requested through the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program.

By providing emotional support outside of the traditional medical system, peer support directly reduces the culture of silence in the fire service that has all too often resulted in worsening mental health and suicide. Please consider joining our group of peer supporters – it’s a great way to give back and support your fellow firefighters!