Former State Auditor Rebecca Otto Joins MnFIRE Team

We’re thrilled to announce that former Minnesota State Auditor Rebecca Otto has joined MnFIRE as our first-ever Director of Business Affairs. Rebecca brings nearly four decades of public, private and nonprofit experience, deep financial expertise and strong relationships across the state to the MnFIRE team.

A well-known and well-respected leader, Rebecca served as Minnesota State Auditor from 2007 to 2019, where she led fiscal/legal compliance oversight of $50 billion in local government spending. Most recently, Rebecca served as executive director of the Ernest C. Oberholtzer Foundation, a conservation-minded nonprofit in Northern Minnesota. She also has experience as a state representative, teacher and small business owner.

“From Ada to Zumbrota, firefighters play an incredibly important role in every Minnesota community, and I am honored to be able to help MnFIRE strengthen its mission, build an even stronger and sustainable foundation and support these hometown heroes into the future,” Rebecca said.

“Rebecca has been a supporter of Minnesota’s fire service her entire career, and has built strong relationships with firefighters, legislators and community leaders all across the state,” said MnFIRE Board President George Esbensen. “As the health and wellness resources MnFIRE provides to firefighters and their families become more and more critical, Rebecca’s expertise and passion for the fire service will help our organization become even more effective and further elevate our important mission.”

You can reach her at rotto@mnfireinitiative.com. Please join us in welcoming Rebecca to the team!

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The connection between PTSD and rescue work like firefighting is clear. Research shows that approximately 20% of firefighters meet criteria for PTSD at some point during their career, compared to a 6.8% lifetime risk for the general population.

Remember that confidential peer support and no-cost counseling visits are available 24/7 for Minnesota firefighters – just call 888-784-6634. mnfireinitiative.com/hhap/#MAP

#PTSDAwarenessDay
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The connection between PTSD and rescue work like firefighting is clear. Research shows that approximately 20% of firefighters meet criteria for PTSD at some point during their career, compared to a 6.8% lifetime risk for the general population.

Remember that confidential peer support and no-cost counseling visits are available 24/7 for Minnesota firefighters – just call 888-784-6634. https://mnfireinitiative.com/hhap/#MAP 

#PTSDAwarenessDay

Congrats to our latest training survey Streamlight Survivor flashlight drawing winner – Kevin Lagos of Saint Paul Fire Department!

Curious about how no-cost MnFIRE trainings can benefit your department? See options here! mnfireinitiative.com/training/
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Congrats to our latest training survey Streamlight Survivor flashlight drawing winner – Kevin Lagos of Saint Paul Fire Department!

Curious about how no-cost MnFIRE trainings can benefit your department? See options here! https://mnfireinitiative.com/training/

As we close out Safety Stand Down Week, Day 5 focuses on Training, used to access existing behavioral health training and develop a long-term plan for keeping behavioral health in the department’s training cycle.

We offer a variety of trainings at no cost to all Minnesota fire departments. From emotional wellness to fitness & nutrition plus many more, you can learn and grow alongside other firefighters in your department. mnfireinitiative.com/training/

Thanks for following along with Safety Stand Down Week!

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Empower is the topic for Day 4 of Safety Stand Down Week. This day encourages firefighters to get help if they need it, reach out to those they see who are struggling, and embrace behavioral health initiatives into the department culture.

With the MnFIRE Assistance Program, we make it as easy as possible for Minnesota firefighters to get the help they need. Just call 888-784-6634. mnfireinitiative.com/hhap/#MAP

#safetystanddown2025 #SafetyStandDown
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