Firefighters and first responders are trained to run toward danger when others are running away. While the physical demands of the job are obvious—heavy gear, intense heat, and long, exhausting calls—the mental and emotional strain is often less visible, yet just as heavy.
Firefighters routinely encounter traumatic scenes: serious injuries, fatal accidents, house fires that destroy lives, and medical emergencies involving children, neighbors, and friends. These experiences do not simply end when the call is cleared. They can follow responders home, affecting sleep, relationships, and overall mental health. Over time, cumulative stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress can take a serious toll.
That reality is one reason the recent donation to the Hackett Fire Department carries deeper meaning than just new equipment. Abu Sufyan Mian, known as Sam, owner of Hugs n’ Biscuits, generously donated a full gym of equipment to the department—an investment not only in physical strength, but in mental resilience.
“We focus on training. But physical and mental fitness is an important aspect of what we do,” said Fire Training Officer Todd Johnson. “This job exposes firefighters to things most people never see. Having healthy outlets to manage that stress is critical.”
Regular physical activity is widely recognized as one of the most effective tools for managing stress and improving mental health. Exercise helps regulate sleep, reduces anxiety, and provides a constructive way to release tension—something firefighters desperately need after difficult calls. A gym within the station also creates a space where firefighters can decompress together, talk openly, and support one another.
For many first responders, peer support is a lifeline. Working out together strengthens bonds and encourages conversations that might not otherwise happen. Those informal moments—between sets or after a tough shift—can help firefighters process what they’ve seen and remind them they are not alone.
Members of the Hackett Fire Department expressed gratitude for the donation and shared their enthusiasm for putting the equipment to use. They see it not just as a benefit for today, but as a long-term step toward sustaining careers, protecting mental health, and reducing burnout.
As awareness grows around first responder mental health, contributions like this highlight an important truth: supporting firefighters means caring for the whole person. By investing in both physical conditioning and emotional well-being, communities help ensure that the people who protect them are given the tools they need to stay healthy, resilient, and ready—on the fireground and beyond.
