The Heat is on in the 2025 Healthiest Fire Department Challenge

Smallwood-Mongaup Valley Fire Department participated in a strength and team building exercise of a hose pass drill.

[LIBERTY, NY] – The Sullivan 180 Healthiest Fire Department Challenge has officially reached the halfway mark of the 8-month-long initiative with local fire fighters logging over 1,000 activities toward improved wellness.

2025 Participating Fire Departments: Bloomingburg, Callicoon Center, Grahamsville, Hortonville, Hurleyville, Jeffersonville, Kauneonga Lake, Liberty, Livingston Manor, Lumberland, Monticello, Narrowsburg-Lava, Rock Hill, Roscoe-Rockland, Smallwood-Mongaup Valley, White Lake, and Woodbourne.

“These dedicated individuals have embraced a wide range of physical challenges, including daily walking, litter pickups, wall sits, plank challenges, and even weekly yoga sessions,” said Lindsay Wheat, Outreach Program Manager at Sullivan 180. “But the commitment to health goes beyond the physical — firefighters have also prioritized mental well-being by completing suicide awareness training, watching mental health webinars, and engaging in reflective practices such as journaling after calls.”

The Healthiest Fire Department Challenge calls attention to the mental and physical health of our firefighters. Firefighting is physically and emotionally demanding from the moment the tones drop. More than half of all firefighters have elevated blood pressure; are obese and pre-diabetic. 90% or more have poor diet or exercise habits, additionally, suffering from heart disease, PTSD and lead in suicide more than any other first responder. Firefighters are consistently managing the balance between family, work and serving their community. Absorbing the trauma of each call has impacts that are not always visible or obvious.

To make this challenge fun and competitive, departments receive credit in the form of ‘turtle points’ for each health focused activity they complete. The department that earns the most turtles will be eligible for grant funding through Sullivan 180 and community partners. To date, Black Bear Fuel Oil Heating & Air Conditioning, Garnet Health Medical Center Catskills, Jeff Bank, Liberty & Monticello Rotary Clubs, Schmidt’s Wholesale, Sullivan Fire Protection Corp, and Thompson Sanitation have committed to being Turtle Award sponsors.

Grantee levels are based on the final points completed by September 1, 2025. The two departments that earn the most turtle points will be eligible for a grant in the amount of $15,000 and $10,000, respectively. Additional grants will be awarded based on a tiered point system. Winners will be announced at the Sullivan County Volunteer Firefighters Parade in Monticello on September 6, 2024.

Grahamsville Fire Department currently holds the lead but Kauneonga Lake Fire Department just a few points behind. Smallwood-Mongaup Valley Fire Department grabs third place. Support your local firefighters by following the challenge at Sullivan180.org and by joining our Facebook where you’ll find live updates and photos.