Congratulations to the 2026 Healthiest Fire Department Challenge Winners and Participants!
2026 1st Place winner Smallwood-Mongaup Valley Fire Department
2026 2nd Place winner Livingston Manor Fire Department
2026 Challenge Captain of the Year Katrina Blais, Kauneonga Lake FD
Additional congratulations to the 2026 Turtle Award Recipients:
Kauneonga Lake Fire Department
Jeffersonville Fire Department
Swan Lake Fire Department
Narrowsburg/Lava Fire Department
White Lake Fire Department
Monticello Fire Department
Challenge Captain of the Year Award: Katrina Blais, Kauneonga Lake Fire Department
Past Healthiest Fire Department Challenge Winners
2025 1st Place winner Grahamsville Fire Department
2024 2nd Place winner Roscoe-Rockland Fire Department
2025 2nd Place winner Kauneonga Lake Fire Department
2023 1st Place winner Grahamsville Fire Department
2024 1st Place winner Monticello Fire Department
2023 2nd Place winner Jeffersonville Fire Department
Healthiest Fire Department Challenge
Engaging our fire departments in creating a culture of health
Sullivan 180’s Healthiest Fire Department Challenge is a health and wellness ‘competition’ for Sullivan County fire departments that encourages physical, nutritional, and mental health activities.
Departments earn ‘turtle points’ for completing health-focused events, activities, and trainings, with at least five members participating. Turtle points encourage slow, consistent, and sustainable acts toward a healthier lifestyle while supporting the firefighting community.
At the end of the challenge, these turtle points make the departments eligible for grant funding and awards. Turtle points encourage slow, consistent, and sustainable acts toward a healthier lifestyle while supporting the firefighting community.
All Sullivan County Fire Departments, 38 volunteer and 1 combination department (paid and volunteer), are eligible to participate in the Healthiest Fire Department Challenge. Every day, these departments are responding to emergencies all across Sullivan County. Being ready to serve their community starts with taking care of themselves.
2026 Healthiest Fire Department Challenge Captains
Each participating fire department chooses a Challenge Captain. Challenge Captains serve as the liaison between Sullivan 180 and their department. Responsibilities include keeping the department members updated with challenge information, opportunities, and progress; working with fire department members to plan and implement physical, nutritional, and mental health activities; logging and submitting documentation for Turtle Points; and more!
Bloomingburg Fire Department #62: Victoria Arnold & Viktor Gjelaj
Jeffersonville Fire Department #12: Ross Turner, Camille O’Brien & John Toogood
Kauneonga Lake Fire Department #13: Katrina Blais & Moshe Angyalfi
Livingston Manor Fire Department #18: George Dolce
Lumberland Fire Department #21: Ann Steimle
Monticello Fire Department #22: Jose Mora
Narrowsburg/Lava Fire Department #24: Brenton Smith
Roscoe-Rockland Fire Department #29: Anthony Morgano
Smallwood-Mongaup Valley Fire Department #30: Rebecca Wood
Swan Lake Fire Department #33: Chris & Brandon Golzak
White Lake Fire Department #35: Brendon & Josh Cunningham
Woodbourne Fire Department #37: James Tavormina & Maurice Loucks
What Sullivan County Firefighters Are Saying
“Being part of this eight-month challenge has been incredibly inspiring—watching firefighters push themselves and each other to make healthier choices while competing as a team has been truly rewarding. Serving as Challenge Captain for the past three years, and earning Challenge Captain of the Year, has shown me how powerful a little friendly competition can be in building healthier, stronger departments.”
— Rebecca Wood (middle), Smallwood-Mongaup Valley Fire Department Challenge Captain and 2025 Challenge Captain of the Year
“[The Challenge] has gotten us up and moving again. There’s a renewed sense of health awareness along with a renewed esprit de corps.”
— George Dolce, Livingston Manor Fire Department Challenge Captain
“The Healthiest Fire Department Challenge is a great way to build simple and easy habits to promote physical and mental health! The challenge has been a great way to get to know and connect with my fellow firefighters while also building healthy habits. We all look forward to weekly Sunday walks, not only to get our steps in, but to chat! Being a Challenge Captain this year has been really fun! I find it exciting, planning events that are engaging, and yet simple - it is really easy to try new activities!”
– Katrina Blais, Kauneonga Lake Challenge Captain and 2026 Challenge Captain of the Year
“This challenge provided great opportunities for our Firefighters to participate in some healthy fun, healthy, creative meals, and thinking outside of the box challenges. This is another opportunity to honor our brave Sullivan County firefighters and show the communities we serve the commitment and hard work their firefighters have completed during the challenge to remain healthy.”
— John Hauschild, Fire Coordinator, Sullivan County Bureau of Fire, Division of Public Safety & Sullivan County Fire Coordinator, NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services