On Saturday, Doug Foote was joined by firefighters from around the Twin Cities as they completed the final mile of Miles for MnFIRE together and descended upon the Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial on the State Capitol Grounds. It marked the powerful end of a truly momentous journey for Minnesota firefighter health.

From Marietta to Montevideo to Saint Paul, and all the communities in between, Doug’s 200-mile trek served to unite, educate and rally support around the top three health issues facing firefighters in our state: cardiac, emotional trauma and cancer. In addition to sharing MnFIRE’s mission with folks along the journey, Miles for MnFIRE also received widespread media attention, reaching an audience of over 5 million people through print, radio and television media outlets. We also managed to raise $20,000 to support MnFIRE’s mission of supporting Minnesota firefighters and they people who care about them.

“This walk has been an incredible and inspirational journey on so many levels,” says Doug. “What is abundantly clear is that we have firefighters who are hurting out there from the myriad traumatic experiences they have encountered. Their dedication is nothing short of heroic, but it drives home the point of how important the MnFIRE mission is, especially related to mental health.”

In the wake of this milestone journey, we’d simply like to say thank you. Thank you to the many firefighters who donned their turnout gear and took brave steps together with us along the way; thank you to the long list of fire departments who donated and voiced their support for the cause; thank you to the compassionate corporations who pledged their support for our hometown heroes; and thank you, Doug Foote, for your tireless efforts to support our organization.

Doug gives special thanks to his sons and wife Denise for being there throughout the journey, as well as to Chiefs Johnson, White, and the entire Chanhassen Fire Dept. “Words cannot possibly express my gratitude for all the departments, firefighters, and members of the community who showed up and dedicated their time to support the Miles for MnFIRE walk and MnFIRE’s mission,” he says. “I am indebted to those who ensured my safety along the route. I am so thankful to the MnFIRE team for their support and commitment throughout this journey, but even more so related to all they are doing for my fire department brothers and sisters. They have a mighty mission and are leading purpose-driven lives indeed!”

If you haven’t made a donation and would still like to there’s still a little time left. Check out our pledge page HERE.

MnFIRE’s newest fundraiser is a walk across Minnesota to raise awareness and much-needed funds for firefighter health. Miles for MnFIRE kicked off on Sept. 12 near Marietta, on the westernmost edge of the state, and is making its way through numerous Minnesota communities, including Lac Qui Parle, Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Meeker, McLeod, Carver, Hennepin, Ramsey counties. The walk ends Sept. 18 at the Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial on the grounds of the State Capitol in St. Paul.

The final leg of Miles for MnFIRE is underway! Doug Foote started this morning in Hopkins, and is making his way through St. Louis Park and Minneapolis before ending his 200-mile journey in St. Paul.

Doug started Day Six yesterday in Waconia, and walked through Victoria, Chanhassen, Excelsior, Shorewood and Minnetonka before ending the day in Hopkins, where he was just 18 miles from the finish line. Throughout his walk, Doug has been joined by other firefighters, their families and community members who have seen firsthand the alarming rate of heart attacks, suicide and cancer affecting Minnesota’s hometown heroes.

Miles for MnFIRE will come to an end this afternoon at approximately 2:30 p.m. As Doug approaches the final mile of his journey, dozens of firefighters from across Minnesota are expected to don their turnout gear and walk with him to the end site at the Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial site on the State Capitol grounds.

If you’d like to join Doug, and many others, on his last mile onto the Capitol grounds, you can find more details, including a map of Saturday’s route, HERE.

Doug’s long trek from Marietta to St. Paul has so far raised more than $13,000 for MnFIRE to continue its mission of supporting Minnesota firefighter health. There’s still time to make a donation HERE.

MnFIRE’s newest fundraiser is a walk across Minnesota to raise awareness and much-needed funds for firefighter health. Miles for MnFIRE kicked off on Sept. 12 near Marietta, on the westernmost edge of the state, and is making its way through numerous Minnesota communities, including Lac Qui Parle, Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Meeker, McLeod, Carver, Hennepin, Ramsey counties. The walk ends Sept. 18 at the Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial on the grounds of the State Capitol in St. Paul.

Beautiful day five of Miles for MnFIRE started off sunny and early in Lester Prairie, with several Lester Prairie firefighters joining Doug Foote on his route, as well as Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Amanda Swenson. Doug made his way through New Germany and Mayer, ending in Waconia yesterday. Firefighters from the New Germany, Mayer and Waconia Fire Departments and community members also kept Doug company, guiding him through their respective cities.

Throughout his walk, Doug has been joined by other firefighters, their families and community members who have seen firsthand the alarming rate of heart attacks, suicide and cancer affecting Minnesota’s hometown heroes.

“Today, we completed the walk into the first town of which I’m very familiar,” said Doug. “I’ve done several triathlons in Waconia, and it was a sight for sore eyes.”

Doug’s long trek from Marietta to St. Paul has so far raised more than $12,000 for MnFIRE to continue its mission of supporting Minnesota firefighter health. There’s still time to make a donation HERE.

With only two days left in Doug’s journey, the end is in sight!

On Saturday, dozens of firefighters from across Minnesota will don their turnout gear and walk with Doug on his final mile to the Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial site on the State Capitol grounds. Firefighters can meet at Saint Paul College starting at 1:45 p.m. and join Doug en route around 2:00 p.m. The group is expected to get to the State Capitol Grounds at approximately 2:30 p.m.

MnFIRE’s newest fundraiser is a walk across Minnesota to raise awareness and much-needed funds for firefighter health. Miles for MnFIRE kicked off on Sept. 12 near Marietta, on the westernmost edge of the state, and is making its way through numerous Minnesota communities, including Lac Qui Parle, Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Meeker, McLeod, Carver, Hennepin, Ramsey counties. The walk ends Sept. 18 at the Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial on the grounds of the State Capitol in St. Paul.

As of Wednesday evening, Doug has officially made it more than halfway through his Miles for MnFIRE walk! It was another inspiring day filled with members of the fire service sharing their stories and countless support from local communities cheering on Doug along his route. FOX 9’s Maury Glover interviewed Doug about the walk yesterday.

Doug kicked off day four in Hutchinson, with a special sendoff from the Hutchinson Fire Department. He was then joined by a few Hutchinson firefighters in their bunker gear on his first steps of the day, as well as the founder of Integrations Wellness & Recovery Center, a local mental health treatment center, who was inspired by our mission to support firefighters through the emotional trauma that comes with this important work.

Then the Silver Lake Fire Department joined Doug for the second half of the day, again with some of the local firefighters in their gear too, and more firefighters and their families greeted the group as they arrived in Silver Lake. Doug’s wife, Denise, has also been a huge support throughout this week.

“When I see my wife at the end of each leg, it always, always lifts my spirit,” said Doug.

Throughout Miles for MnFIRE, Doug has been seen walking with a flag that celebrates and honors those in the fire service, and has had all of the firefighters who have walked beside him sign it.

Miles for MnFIRE has now raised a total of $11,055. To learn more and donate, click HERE. Your support will help ensure that more firefighters receive life-saving services in three key areas: heart health, emotional trauma, and cancer prevention and support.

MnFIRE’s newest fundraiser is a walk across Minnesota to raise awareness and much-needed funds for firefighter health. Miles for MnFIRE kicked off on Sept. 12 near Marietta, on the westernmost edge of the state, and is making its way through numerous Minnesota communities, including Lac Qui Parle, Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Meeker, McLeod, Carver, Hennepin, Ramsey counties. The walk ends Sept. 18 at the Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial on the grounds of the State Capitol in St. Paul.

The inspiration continued on day three of Miles for MnFIRE, as Doug Foote made his way through Prinsburg, Blomkest, Lake Lillian and Cosmos.

It was a chilly, windy day, but Doug enjoyed a lot of company along his route. He was joined by the Prinsburg fire chief and a fellow firefighter to start the morning, and then a former Willmar firefighter who heard about Doug’s mission on Facebook this week stopped by to walk the next nine miles by his side.

As the day went on, Doug was also joined by the Blomkest, Lake Lillian and Cosmos Fire Departments who escorted him safely along his journey. Two Lake Lillian firefighters also put on their bunker gear to walk.

“We had some incredibly deep and thoughtful discussions on mental health and PTSD,” said Doug. “Those discussions made my whole day, and hit on the meaning behind MnFIRE and this walk.”

As Doug walked into town, escorted by the Cosmos Fire Department, he was welcomed by the Cosmos fire chief, firefighters and their families, as well as other community members. A big thanks to all of the fire departments for their protection and support as Doug makes his trek.

Miles for MnFIRE has raised a total of $8,880, which means we’re more than halfway to our $15,000 goal! Do your part to sustain firefighter health and wellness in your community – give today. Thank you in advance for your support!

MnFIRE’s newest fundraiser is a walk across Minnesota to raise awareness and much-needed funds for firefighter health. Miles for MnFIRE kicked off on Sept. 12 near Marietta, on the westernmost edge of the state, and is making its way through numerous Minnesota communities, including Lac Qui Parle, Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Meeker, McLeod, Carver, Hennepin, Ramsey counties. The walk ends Sept. 18 at the Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial on the grounds of the State Capitol in St. Paul.

Doug Foote continued on the next leg of his 200-mile journey across Minnesota bright and early on Monday – walking over 30 miles from Dawson to Clara City.

For day two of Miles for MnFIRE, Doug continued east on US-212 to stop in Montevideo and then continued on State Highway 7 to Clara City. Doug said, “the relay of guardian angels continued today,” as individuals from the Montevideo, Maynard and Clara City fire departments all provided escorts and protected him on his long journey.

“It is humbling meeting these volunteers,” said Doug. “They are the heartbeat of our community. When I ask them why they join the fire service, the response is universal: We need someone in our small community to do it.”

Doug spent time in Montevideo, where the Montevideo American News interviewed him for this article. It was a challenging day with the rain, but Doug and volunteers successfully finished up the day in Clara City.

This walk is raising awareness and much-needed funds for firefighter health. So far, Miles for MnFIRE has raised $7,755. Learn more and donate HERE. If you pledge at least $1 per mile (equal to $200), you’ll receive a Miles for MnFIRE hat as a thank you.

Stay tuned here and follow us on Facebook for updates along the way as Doug heads toward the Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial on the grounds of the State Capitol in St. Paul, where he’s scheduled to arrive on Saturday, Sept. 18.

MnFIRE’s newest fundraiser is a walk across Minnesota to raise awareness and much-needed funds for firefighter health. Miles for MnFIRE kicked off on Sept. 12 near Marietta, on the westernmost edge of the state, and is making its way through numerous Minnesota communities, including Lac Qui Parle, Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Meeker, McLeod, Carver, Hennepin, Ramsey counties. The walk ends Sept. 18 at the Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial on the grounds of the State Capitol in St. Paul.

 

Miles for MnFIRE is underway! Flanked by Marietta firefighters and their families, Chanhassen firefighter Doug Foote took the first steps on his 200-mile journey across Minnesota Sunday morning.

Here’s a look at the first leg of his walk – in a short, under-two-minute video.

After setting out from Marietta, Doug continued east on State Highway 40, stopping in Madison and Dawson, with the Marietta, Madison and Dawson fire departments all providing escorts along the way.

On Sunday afternoon, Minnesota Public Radio ran multiple stories on Miles for MnFIRE across the state. This morning, Doug left from the Baxter Town Hall with a Montevideo fire escort and is stopping in Montevideo and ending the day in Clara City.

The walk is raising awareness and much-needed funds for firefighter health. So far, Miles for MnFIRE has raised $6,905. For more details or to donate, visit https://mnfireinitiative.com/miles-for-mnfire/.

Stay tuned to our blog and follow us on Facebook for updates along the way as Doug heads toward the Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial on the grounds of the State Capitol in St. Paul, where he’s scheduled to arrive on Saturday, Sept. 18.

The passage of the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program (HHAP) has given us a lot to celebrate and be thankful for recently, and one of the greatest proactive resources it will give Minnesota firefighters is support for ongoing annual MnFIRE Awareness training.

During these free trainings, current and former firefighters and other health experts will provide you and your department with actionable tips on how to protect yourselves from the three health problems most commonly experienced by those in the fire service: cardiac, emotional trauma and cancer. Changing the current culture in the Minnesota Fire Service is integral to long-term reduction of the incidences of these health issues. MnFIRE trainings are the first step on a path to firefighter health and wellness, and thanks to the HHAP, the trainings are all free and expanded.

To date, more than 435 departments have completed one or more MnFIRE trainings – and 31 departments have completed all four. If your department isn’t included in these totals, or it’s been a while since your last training, now’s the time to take advantage and get your department signed up!

The trainings we offer include:

• MnFIRE Awareness Training – This introductory class allows your department to become “MnFIRE Aware” of the occupational health risks of being in the fire service.
• Cardiac Deep-Dive – This class looks at the heightened risk factors, the types of cardiovascular diseases that most commonly impact firefighters and offers prevention strategies to help lessen the risk.
• Emotional Wellness Deep-Dive – This class helps de-stigmatize talking about mental health in your department, as well as provides practical information around how to properly debrief after a difficult call with your team, ways to maintain emotional well-being and what resources are available to anyone who needs help.
• Cancer Deep-Dive – This class educates firefighters on activities that put them at higher risk for developing cancer, proper PPE strategies for mitigating cancer risks, and what types of screenings can be done to catch cancer early.

We’ve heard positive feedback firsthand from chiefs and firefighters across the state about the eye-opening education these trainings provide; and how helpful and actionable the prevention strategies and tips are.

As your department completes these trainings and commits to improving the well-being of your firefighters, you can progress toward achieving Bronze, Silver and Gold MnFIRE Aware Certification status, which makes you eligible for special MnFIRE benefits.

To sign up for training, visit mnfiretraining.org. Choose the training(s) your department would like to take. Then, click the “Register Now” button, fill out the form and you’re all set!

If you have any questions about the resources the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program provides or need help getting registered, contact MnFIRE at 763-221-9329 or info@mnfireinitiative.com. We look forward to seeing you at a training soon.

All of us at MnFIRE are thrilled to announce that the Minnesota legislature passed the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program this week. This is a hard-fought, long-in-the-works win for the state’s fire service, and will ensure that every Minnesota firefighter will have access to education, prevention and care needed to handle a cardiac, emotional trauma or cancer diagnosis.

While a few final details are still being worked out, the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program will:

• Provide a statewide “Critical Care” policy for all Minnesota firefighters which covers diagnoses of cancer or cardiac issues. Coverage amount is $20,000 per diagnosis.
• Create a MnFIRE Assistance Program (MnAP) for all Minnesota firefighters targeting emotional trauma issues unique to the fire service, and ensure additional support for firefighters who remain in need beyond initial treatment sessions.
• Support ongoing annual MnFIRE Awareness training for every Minnesota firefighter. Changing the current culture in the Minnesota Fire Service is integral to long-term reduction of the incidences of cancer, emotional trauma and cardiac.
• Sustain annual MnFIRE Awareness Training for medical doctors and mental health professionals statewide so all firefighters in Minnesota have regional access to informed and trained medical professionals to help with prevention, mitigation, diagnosis and treatment of cancer, cardiac and emotional trauma.

Just like the fire service response to an emergency, it has taken a team effort to reach this milestone. This has been a fabulous statewide collaboration by legislators, fire service folks and the general public.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in making the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program become a reality. Stay tuned for more details!

The past year has been stressful for everyone, to say the least, and according to the American Psychological Association, pandemic-related stress comes with serious health consequences including changes to weight, sleep and alcohol use. First responders already face high exposure to traumatic stress incidents, so we caught up with Dr. Margaret Gavian, licensed psychologist and medical director of MnFIRE, to find out how the added stressors of the pandemic are impacting firefighters:

What new challenges have those in the fire service been experiencing during the pandemic?

Firefighters are in one of the most stressful occupations there is, regardless of if they are paid-on-call, volunteer or career. The pandemic put additional stress on top of an already maxed-out fire service. Leaders had to get up to speed quickly on how best to protect their members from an invisible and unknown danger. Departments with firefighters who caught COVID-19 were further stressed by mandatory overtime or understaffing caused by mandatory quarantine periods and ill firefighters.

This is a profession rooted in teamwork and brother and sisterhood, but this year, firefighters were often isolated from one another when not on calls, reducing comradery and support they naturally would get from one another at the station.

Policies and regulations have also been ever-changing. With the uncertainty of the pandemic and medical understanding, there were often differences in protocols between departments, and even within departments. Differences of opinions and inconsistent messaging from leaders made for an even more challenging environment.

The pandemic has been stressful for everyone, but what stressors do firefighters face specifically?

Firefighters are people just like the rest of us. Their families were put under additional stress with children at home, spouses out of work and financial woes, and then had to continue serving their communities who were suffering from the pandemic as well. Moreover, 90% of Minnesota’s fire service are not career firefighters – meaning that they have regular jobs just like the rest of us, jobs that may be experiencing challenges. So, if you’ve experienced stress from the pandemic, and you’re not a firefighter, assume that a firefighter experienced an extra dose of stress for the last year and a half.

I’ve heard stories of loved ones hugging their grandparents goodbye for what was assumed the last time, before they were transported to the hospital. COVID-19 has put pressure on all of us, and mental health has plummeted as a result. Mental health calls, suicides and overdoses are some of the worst kinds of calls firefighters respond to, and suicides and drug overdoses are on the rise due to the effects of the pandemic. So, if our communities are experiencing more stress, the firefighters responding to these communities are too.

What kinds of trends are you seeing now that we’re turning a corner on the pandemic?

While the pandemic may be winding down and departments may have been vaccinated or have gotten used to this new normal, what’s important to realize is that even if we return to a pre-coronavirus baseline, that’s a pretty abysmal baseline. 50% of all firefighters contemplate suicide, and they also experience depression, anxiety, alcohol abuse and posttraumatic stress at much higher rates than the general population – on a good day.

There was already a silent epidemic within the fire service before COVID-19. While firefighters and their leaders bravely went out on the front lines of the pandemic, facing a global threat we didn’t know much about without hesitation, they were already maxed out in many ways. While there is a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, our work supporting the resilience and mental health of Minnesota’s firefighters is far from over.

How can those in the fire service and their families seek help during this difficult time?

If you’re not feeling like yourself, or you’re feeling burned out, exhausted, irritable or stressed, the important thing to know is that it’s ok. It’s ok to not feel ok. There are resources out there to support firefighters and their families.

If you are in crisis, call MnFIRE’s 24-hour, confidential peer support hotline at 888-784-6634. If you’re a family member or a firefighter, if you’re retired or working, or if you’re simply concerned about a friend, our team of dedicated trained volunteers will work hard to find the right resources for you. If you’re a chief or part of command staff, contact MnFIRE to talk about strategies and training to support your department’s overall mental health.