Honoring the Legislators Advocating for Minnesota Firefighters

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.
Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller is presented with a commemorative bronze axe from MnFIRE.

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:

Senator Paul Gazelka is presented a commemorative bronze axe from MnFIRE.
  • 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/.

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Do you live in Southwest Minnesota? We need your help to make our crucial trainings happen in tandem with our team of medical experts!

We're currently searching for new MnFIRE training instructors – especially folks who live in or near the Southwest Minnesota region – to facilitate our free trainings on topics like cardiac, emotional wellness, cancer, sleep, and fitness & nutrition in communities like Willmar, Marshall, Redwood Falls, Montevideo, Alexandria and more.

If interested, please contact us at mnfireinitiative.com/contact-us/.
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Do you live in Southwest Minnesota? We need your help to make our crucial trainings happen in tandem with our team of medical experts!

Were currently searching for new MnFIRE training instructors – especially folks who live in or near the Southwest Minnesota region – to facilitate our free trainings on topics like cardiac, emotional wellness, cancer, sleep, and fitness & nutrition in communities like Willmar, Marshall, Redwood Falls, Montevideo, Alexandria and more.

If interested, please contact us at https://mnfireinitiative.com/contact-us/.

Sign your department up for this impactful FREE health and wellness training at mnfireinitiative.com/training/.I want to thank our members with their spouses and Carsonville Township Board for attending our MNFIRE Awareness training and dinner. The MNFIRE Awareness talked about the cardiac issues, emotional trauma and cancer that we as Firefighters are exposed to every time we respond to a fire.
Also want to thank Crystal Krautkremer for presenting!
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Sign your department up for this impactful FREE health and wellness training at https://mnfireinitiative.com/training/.

Shout out to the Nicollet Fire Department for joining us for a cardiac deep-dive training!

In this class, we look at the heightened risk factors for heart disease and the types of cardiac issues that most commonly impact firefighters. Most importantly, we address the prevention strategies needed to help firefighters protect their hearts.

Sign up your department for a FREE MnFIRE training at mnfireinitiative.com/training/.
... See MoreSee Less

Shout out to the Nicollet Fire Department for joining us for a cardiac deep-dive training!

In this class, we look at the heightened risk factors for heart disease and the types of cardiac issues that most commonly impact firefighters. Most importantly, we address the prevention strategies needed to help firefighters protect their hearts.

Sign up your department for a FREE MnFIRE training at mnfireinitiative.com/training/.
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