The Firefighter Health Forum brings together the greater fire service community for meaningful discussions, powerful speakers and actionable sessions around the most critical health issues facing Minnesota firefighters.
Firefighters and their spouses and partners are invited to join us at the 2026 Firefighter Health Forum presented by MnFIRE on Jan. 23-24 at Grand Casino Mille Lacs in Onamia, MN.
Forum attendees will dive in on firefighter mental and physical health – with sessions exploring heart health, suicide prevention, nutrition, cancer, sleep and more. There will also be several sessions specifically designed for firefighter spouses and partners where we’ll discuss strategies for supporting the firefighter loved one in your life, how trauma can affect the whole family and open communication around mental health.
We have an exciting lineup of presenters this year! Dr. Margaret Gavian will address holistic health in the fire service, and connect the dots between physical health, emotional stress and the work you love – so you can keep showing up without burning out. Aaron Zamzow, Firefighter/EMT, certified personal trainer and founder of Fire Rescue Fitness, will speak about igniting a healthy and fit culture in your department and building resiliency with EMS and a dose of reality. We’re also excited to hear from MnFIRE Medical Director Dr. Zeke McKinney, NAMI Minnesota and Megan Lautz, award-winning registered dietician and owner of RescueRD, which provides custom nutrition for fire departments nationwide.
Visit the event listing on Eventbrite for the conference schedule. Stay tuned for the complete agenda with session and speaker details, coming soon!
Peer supporter training will also be offered at the Firefighter Health Forum this year. If you are interested in becoming a MnFIRE peer supporter or completing your required Peer Support training, please register for Peer Support Training Block B and Block C. If you sign up for the peer supporter training track using these separate Eventbrite links, you do not need to register for the Firefighter Health Forum as well to attend.
NOTE: this training begins on Thursday, Jan. 22, from 2-7 p.m., before the rest of the Forum begins. Peer supporters must also complete Applied Suicide Intervention Skills training at a later date to fulfill our training requirements and start working with peers. Please contact us at info@mnfireinitiative.com if you have questions.
There is a $50 registration fee per attendee (plus fees). Scholarships are available upon request – please contact us at info@mnfireinitiative.com for more information. Meals are included with your event ticket.
Register for the Firefighter Health Forum on Eventbrite.
We’ll kick off the Forum weekend with a welcome reception from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22, with heavy appetizers. We hope to see you there!
Lodging for the Firefighter Health Forum is available at the Grand Casino Mille Lacs Hotel. MnFIRE has reserved a block of rooms at the Grand Casino Mille Lacs Hotel for Jan. 22-23. To reserve a room, visit their website and use code FHF122M.
Reservations must be made by Jan .1, 2026, to receive the discounted group rate.
Please reach out to us at info@mnfireinitiative.com with any questions about the Firefighter Health Forum.