Paying Tribute to Minnesota’s Fallen Firefighters

Several people from the MnFIRE team volunteered at this year’s Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service on Sunday, where hundreds gathered on the State Capitol grounds to remember our brothers and sisters in the fire service who have paid the ultimate price.

For 11 years, the event – coordinated by the Minnesota Fire Service Foundation – on the last Sunday in September has been a dramatic annual reminder of the importance of ensuring that every Minnesota firefighter has access to the education, prevention and care needed to handle a medical diagnosis, including the top-three diseases firefighters face: cardiac issues, emotional trauma and cancer.

Since 1881, 241 Minnesota firefighters have died in the line of duty. Their names have been inscribed on columns throughout the nationally recognized memorial, located on the south side of the Capitol grounds.

Learn more about the firefighters who were honored from KSTP‘s coverage of Sunday’s memorial service.

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Your health. Our priority. What a fantastic weekend at the 2026 Firefighter Health Forum! To our attendees, presenters and supporters from near and far – thank you. From training and discussion to celebration and camaraderie, it was a privilege to gather our community in the name of firefighter health and wellness!

Special thanks to our excellent speakers:

Jen Elleraas
Dr. Margaret Gavian
Pamela S. Graydon, NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health National Firefighter Registry for Cancer
Rochelle Hawthorne
Megan Lautz, Rescue RD - Megan Lautz
Dr. Zeke J. McKinney
Sara Nelson
Dr. Michelle D. Sherman
Danielle Thornton, NAMI Minnesota
Aaron Zamzow, Fire Rescue Fitness
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Thank you WCCO & CBS News Minnesota for having our very own president and co-founder, Mike Dobesh, and state director of Firefighter Cancer Support Network, Minnesota, Steve Shapira, on The 4 to discuss Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month. We are grateful for the chance to spread awareness and share important occupational health resources for the fire service community.

If you know a firefighter, be sure to tell them about the no-cost resources available to them through MnFIRE and the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program. 🚒 www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/video/the-demands-of-the-job-that-are-putting-firefighters-in-more-danger/
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Your health. Our priority. The 2026 Firefighter Health Forum begins this week! ⏰

We look forward to welcoming our fire service community to Grand Casino Mille Lacs. Check out our conference agenda on the Firefighter Health Forum page at the link in our bio!
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January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month, and there's no better time to take advantage of our no-cost cancer training. You and your department can learn:

🟠 Activities that increase risk for developing cancer
🟠 Proper PPE strategies for mitigating cancer risks
🟠 What types of screenings can be done to catch cancer early

Schedule a training today: mnfireinitiative.com/training/
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January is Firefight
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