Firefighters are so much more than who you see at the scene of an emergency. They’re mothers, fathers, siblings, friends, partners, neighbors, just like you. At the Leary Firefighters Foundation, we support firefighters not only for the work they do, but also for the lives they lead and the roles they fill beyond the call. Because when we fully support our firefighters, we’re also supporting the people they protect, the families they love, and the communities they serve. (fb)

“The difficult calls you go on…the sheer volume of the things that you see, the sad and the depressing situations that we encounter, are going to have an effect, they’re going to take a toll, and I think sometimes people don’t recognize just how much it’s affected them until they’re in a really bad or dark place.” – Captain Ryan Farstad, Tacoma Fire Department Station 13 May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a powerful reminder that your mental and emotional well-being is just as important as your physical health. To the firefighters carrying the unseen weight of the job: you are not alone. There is strength in speaking up. There is courage in asking for help. And there is hope in knowing that resources are available. Let’s break the stigma, support one another, and change the culture—together. 🎥: The Call We Carry: Confronting PTSD in the Fire Service – full documentary available on YouTube. (fb)