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Denver Fire asks for steady funding as wellness program expands screenings, mental-health outreach
Summary
Denver Fire told the City Council Health & Safety Committee that its wellness and resilience program has reached a 92.8% participation rate for operations screenings, expanded CPAT testing and will launch a de-identified mental-health survey in 2026; leaders asked for stable funding and described partnerships with Kaiser and St. Joe's.
Deputy Chief Kathleen Friedenberg and Denver Fire leaders told the City Council Health & Safety Committee on Dec. 17 that the department’s Wellness and Resilience program has grown substantially but remains underfunded.
Friedenberg said the program now sits under the Deputy Chief’s office to ensure direct oversight and that a small staff coordinates physical and behavioral services for firefighters. "We've kind of built like a stiletto level program with a shoelace budget," she said, urging sustained support.
Why it matters: Firefighters face both high physical-injury rates and elevated cancer and exposure risks tied to combustion byproducts and contaminated gear. DFD leaders told the committee the program helps detect problems earlier through annual screenings, targeted blood testing and embedded physical therapists, improving outcomes and reducing long-term costs.
DFD described three core program areas: annual wellness…
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