Arizona’s brave firefighters, EMT’s, and paramedics work in complex environments that challenge them in a multitude of ways. Whether it’s dealing with grieving family members while attempting to save their loved ones lives, or confronting the harsh realities of not being able to save everyone, the mental toll is taxing. The rates of cancer in the American Fire Service are significantly higher than those of the regular population - this is due to the abundance of synthetic materials that now burn in every fire, coupled with sleep deprivation, and many other factors supported by scientific research. In Arizona, a 56-hour work schedule means that we are scheduled to work nearly 1,000 more hours per year than a typical 40-hour employee, and that time away from family is another significant stressor. Mandatory overtime has now become the norm, so having reliable days off are not guaranteed and this additional workload leads to more workplace injuries, mental health exposures, and increased exposures to the carcinogens that give us cancer.

The reality for us is that there is no end in sight, and our issues grow every year. We’ve become a catch-all for the communities we serve, and we’re proud to do it, but the expectation is that we can solve most of society's problems from a fire engine. Unfortunately, our members have suffered and continue to suffer, and there isn’t an engine showing up to solve our problems. We have to tackle the issues together, and this Foundation aims to do exactly that. As a services-based Foundation, we intend to guide our members through effort and resources towards the best possible outcome. We will assist our members when they contract cancer, struggle with mental health, suffer from addiction, or suffer from workplace injuries.
The Arizona Firefighter Foundation will work in the shadows. Our members will have the confidence of anonymity and silence, and they won’t have to relive their traumas or have their stories told in specific detail. Our donors will likely never hear from the people they’ve helped, and that’s exactly what we want and what they deserve.

When our members are healthy, the community receives the services they deserve - the Arizona Firefighter Foundation will save lives, both in our ranks and in our communities. Thank you for your support.

Dan Freiberg
Chairman
Arizona Firefighter Foundation