From answering the call to making the call: A fire chief’s journey with peer support

“We had an incident where a person lost their life in a grain bin. We all knew this farmer who lost his life. Once we left the scene, I knew it had touched all of us,” explained Chief Jeff Leuer of the West Suburban Fire District, a paid on-call department of 50 firefighters covering 50 square miles including stations in Loretto and Hamel.

“When I left the scene and was driving back to the station, I called MnFIRE and I said, ‘We just had this incident. I am concerned that I am going to have some people who are going to have to deal with this. What do I do? How do I direct them?’”

Fortunately, Jeff knew that confidential help was available 24/7 for any firefighter and their family through the MnFIRE Assistance Program, which targets emotional health and stress unique to the fire service through connection to mental health counseling and peer support.

The trained MnFIRE Peer Support specialist who answered Jeff’s call reassured him: We can help. Point them our way. What Jeff didn’t realize was that it wasn’t just his firefighters who stood to benefit from the program.

“That peer supporter from MnFIRE, they said, ‘How are you doing?’ They stopped me in my tracks,” said Jeff.

That simple question helped Jeff realize his bucket of stress and trauma was practically overflowing. After being in the fire service for 25 years, he could barely take it anymore. With the peer supporter’s reassurance and the offer to talk again, they hung up.

Jeff talked about the conversation with his wife and thought maybe that was it. But the next morning, he got a call from that same peer supporter, saying, “Good morning, Jeff. How are you doing today? It’s a new day. The sun is shining.”

From that day forward for about a month straight, the peer supporter would call or text him.

“While I didn’t go get formal, professional help, that person helped bring me from the really tough place I was at,” said Jeff. “‘We’ve got to get some of this stuff out of your bucket,’ they would say. I still get emotional.”

“MnFIRE, and the peer support, it means so much to me.”

And those firefighters Jeff referred to MnFIRE? Two of them told him how glad they were that someone reached out, that they had an excellent experience. Jeff said, “Even if they don’t get formal help, they are guided in the right direction.”

This incident wasn’t the first time Jeff or his team needed some help from MnFIRE, and it won’t be the last. Two of his firefighters recently experienced cardiac events and sought help from the Critical Illness benefit. And others sought out MnFIRE Peer Support when a fellow firefighter died unexpectedly in 2021.

Jeff’s department takes mental health very seriously. And talking about it, he believes, makes it easier for people to reach out when they need it.

“I have had struggles. Still today, if something comes up, I’m not afraid to give a call and talk to someone,” Jeff said. “By firefighters hearing the chiefs say, ‘I had a problem. I needed help. I reached out and it helped.’ It makes it okay for them to give a call. It’s for firefighters, and it’s for chiefs, too.”

Confidential help is available over the phone or online, anytime for any Minnesota firefighter and their family through the MnFIRE Assistance Program. For more details or for help, call 888-784-6634 or click here.

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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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