Minnesota Department of Public Safety Makes Historic Ruling

By George Esbensen, MnFIRE Board President

In a landmark decision, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety has ruled that Maple Grove and St. Paul Fire Captain Michael Paidar died in the line of duty. Captain Paidar died from a rare and aggressive form of cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, on August 26, 2020, at age 53.

The decision by Commissioner John Harrington last week marks a historical first for the Minnesota Fire Service: A Minnesota Public Safety Officer Death Benefit has never before been awarded to a person who died from cancer.

In a letter to Captain Paidar’s family, Commissioner Harrington cited a number of considerations leading to the decision, including medical studies linking the number of a firefighter’s fire hours to leukemia mortality, his age and his primary physician’s statement.

“Having been in law enforcement for nearly 40 years, I understand the dangers facing public safety officers each day,” Commissioner Harrington wrote. “And it appears that in your husband’s case, the danger was not solely an immediate one. As such, I believe his death falls within the intended definition of ‘killed in the line of duty’ recognized by this state and will be certified as such.

All of us at MnFIRE continue to reflect on the loss of Captain Paidar and honor his years of dedicated public service. Please join us in expressing our gratitude to everyone who worked on behalf of Captain Paidar’s wife and children, particularly IAFF Local 21 and the Minnesota Professional Firefighters. This is an incredible step forward for Captain Paidar’s family and for all firefighters struggling with fire service-driven cancers.

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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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