City of Fairmont Secures $246,117 to Launch Firefighter Health & Wellness Program
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on October 02, 2026
The City of Fairmont has been awarded $246,117 in federal funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program.
The funds will launch the CATCH FiRe program — a comprehensive occupational health, cancer screening, and wellness initiative designed to protect all 41 full-time firefighters in the department.
“This grant is a tremendous investment in the health, safety, and future of our firefighters. It will allow us to develop a comprehensive wellness program that goes beyond traditional occupational health initiatives to address physical fitness, preventive medical care, behavioral health, cancer prevention and early detection, and the unique health risks associated with a career in the fire service. We are especially excited about our partnership with WVU Medicine and the opportunity to help establish a program that can ultimately serve firefighters beyond our own department. We are extremely grateful to receive this funding and excited about what it will allow us to accomplish for our firefighters, their families and the fire service throughout our region," Fairmont Fire Chief Brian Starn said.
The Fairmont Fire Department protects 18,035 residents directly and supports more than 56,000 people across Marion County through mutual aid partnerships, responding to nearly 2,700 calls annually. Due to frequent exposures to smoke, toxic chemicals, extreme physical exertion, and traumatic stress, firefighting is internationally classified as a Group 1 carcinogenic occupation.
Over the past five years, these hazards have caused 22 injuries, 23 workers’ compensation claims, and more than 6,600 hours of lost time, costing the city approximately $65,000 annually in injury-related overtime.
The CATCH FiRe initiative bridges critical funding gaps that municipal resources cannot support.
Rolled out over 24 months, the program establishes mandatory annual evaluations, risk tracking, and direct care pathways.
Key services include:
- Targeted Cancer Screenings: Low-dose lung CT scans, skin, oral, nasopharyngeal, prostate, colorectal, and gender-specific screenings.
- Clinical Health & Fitness Assessments: Cardiovascular evaluations, pulmonary function testing, routine laboratory panels, hearing, vision, and neurological screenings.
- Behavioral Health Support: Expanded mental health resources and peer support training addressing PTSD, stress, anxiety, and depression.
- By identifying health conditions early, the program improves firefighter survivability, fitness for duty, and overall operational readiness while curbing lost work time and workers' compensation expenses.
To ensure long-term sustainability after the grant period, the department will integrate the program into annual city budgeting, daily operations, and ongoing clinical partnerships with regional healthcare providers, including WVU Medicine.
The City of Fairmont is also grateful for the support of federal representatives for their support in acquiring this grant.
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