KSTP Features MnFIRE Executive Director Wayne Kewitsch

Wayne Kewitsch brings 25 years of experience in Minnesota’s fire service — and harrowing, first-hand understanding of the dangers firefighters face — to his new role helping firefighters across the state as MnFIRE’s first executive director. On Sunday, KSTP’s Eric Chaloux spoke with Kewitsch about his 20 years with the Richfield Fire Department, including the past nine as chief, and his goals for MnFIRE moving forward.

Kewitsch brings a dramatically unique perspective to the organization, after three recent life-threatening cardiac episodes. Cardiovascular disease is the top killer of firefighters nationwide and is by far the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in the fire service. Kewitsch is working to prevent health scares like his own from happening to any other firefighters.

Consequently, Kewitsch is leading MnFIRE’s efforts to provide all of Minnesota’s 20,000 firefighters with free health and wellness training to become “MnFIRE Aware” of their own occupational risks, thanks to a $400,000 grant from the Fire Service Advisory Committee. The training, taught by firefighters and other health experts, teaches firefighters how to protect themselves from the three most common problems experienced by firefighters: cardiac, emotional trauma and cancer, so they can continue to do their jobs and protect others.

“We want to make sure we take care of our firefighters while they take care of the community,” says Kewitsch.

Thanks to Eric Chaloux for highlighting this critical work. Watch the full interview here.

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We can’t believe it is that time of year, but this weekend will be our closing weekend. We have had a great summer at Tommy’s Tonka Trolley, and enjoyed beautiful weather. This Saturday, as we do every year, we will be providing free ice cream along with our good friends at Sebastian Joe’s and donating the profits to a charity. This year we have chosen to donate our money to the Minnesota Fire Initiative. The vast majority of firefighters in Minnesota are volunteer. They have significantly higher risk for mental health, illness, Cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Minnesota Fire Initiative helps firefighters and their families. We are happy and excited to welcome the Excelsior Fire Department and their truck to come down and make the day festive. We are very hopeful to raise some good funds for Minnesota Fire Initiative. The law firm of Schmidt and Salita will also be matching your donations. So come down and enjoy some great Sebastian Joe’s ice cream while it lasts and all of our other treats. We just asked that you make a worthy donation to this wonderful organization . We are open at 11 AM. We expect, weather, permitting, to be open until 5 PM (or until we run out) The Excelsior Fire truck will be down near the trolley for all to come see. The weather is supposed to be beautiful and we are excited. Please come down and join us. Again we want to thank Sebastian Joe’s for helping us donate. @tommystonkatrolley @mnfireinitiative @sebastianjoes @schmidtsalitalawteam ... See MoreSee Less

Thanks to everyone who stopped by our table at the Minnesota State Fire Department Association Annual Conference last week! We enjoyed chatting about how we can continue to help firefighters across the state get the physical and mental health resources they need. ... See MoreSee Less

Thanks to everyone who stopped by our table at the Minnesota State Fire Department Association Annual Conference last week! We enjoyed chatting about how we can continue to help firefighters across the state get the physical and mental health resources they need.
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