Temecula fire chief highlights Firehouse Family Retreat and support programs for firefighters
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Summary
Division Chief John Crater reported that the Firehouse Family Retreat has grown to serve hundreds of firefighters and families, thanked city support and donors, and invited community donations now that the program is a 501(c)(3).
Division Chief John Crater provided the council with a public-safety update and described the Firehouse Family Retreat, a peer-support program the city helped seed through CRP funding.
Crater shared December call statistics and community outreach figures, then described the retreat’s mission: peer support, family programming and mental-health breakouts to address PTSD, sleep issues and relationship strain. "We started the Firehouse Family Retreat... This is our fourth year and it's going great," Crater said in a video presentation he introduced.
He said the retreat has served more than 700 firefighters and family members over four years and that the program is now organized as a 501(c)(3), which enables community donations to support retreats and assistance for firefighters coping with cancer or other crises.
Crater asked residents and leaders to "just check in" with firefighters and noted the retreat’s March dates and that over 60 families were already signed up. Councilmembers praised the program and encouraged community support.
Next steps: The chief invited additional community involvement and indicated donation and volunteer pathways now that the retreat is a recognized nonprofit.
