Fire Family Strong
Spouse/Partner Peer Mentor Support
From One Fire Family to Another — Together We Rise
Fire life is unlike any other. The unpredictable schedules, long stretches apart, emotional weight of the job, and constant transition between connection and separation create a rhythm that only fire families truly understand.
At the Fire Family Foundation, we see you. We understand the sacrifice, the strength, and the resilience behind every fire spouse and partner. That’s why we created Fire Family Strong: Peer Mentor Support Inititiative — a community-driven initiative built to ensure no fire family ever walks this journey alone.
Whether you’re seeking support or feel called to support others, there is a place for you here.
Become a Fire Family Mentor
A team of mentors who are fire spouses and partners will provide trusted, relatable guidance to other fire spouses and partners, fostering connection, reducing isolation, and offering strength from those who’ve walked a similar path. Mentors will receive training and ongoing check-ins for support and guidance. Mentors will provide:
Emotional Support
Offer a safe, empathetic space to talk through challenges, stress, or trauma.
Shared Experience
Normalize feelings by sharing personal stories and lived experience in the fire family life.
Resource Navigation
Help identify and connect families to relevant mental health, wellness, and community services.
Relationship Guidance
Support healthy communication, conflict resolution, and intimacy building within fire marriages/relationships.
Self-Care Strategies
Encourage practices to manage anxiety, burnout, and secondary trauma.
Crisis Support
Be a steady presence during difficult seasons like disasters or health emergencies.
Community Building
Help foster connection, reduce isolation, and create a sense of belonging.
Ongoing Check-ins
Provide consistent encouragement and accountability throughout the healing process.
To ensure every mentor feels equipped and supported, the Fire Family Foundation provides: Initial training on listening skills, boundaries, and resource navigation Ongoing check-ins with our program team, including a licensed clinician Connection opportunities with fellow mentors for shared learning and peer support Your experience could be exactly what someone else needs. Join us in strengthening the fire family one connection at a time.
Become a Fire Family Mentee
If you’re seeking someone who truly understands the fire life — its challenges, transitions, and emotional weight — this initiative is for you.
Mentees receive:- A thoughtful match with a trained Fire Family Mentor
- Weekly check-ins and compassionate support
- A safe place to talk openly about the realities of fire life
- Guidance and tools for balancing family dynamics, shift schedules, communication, and more
- Access to trusted resources and referrals
- Opportunities to connect with the broader fire family community
Why This Matters
The need within the fire family is real and urgent. Research shows:- 14% of public safety spouses experience PTSD symptoms
- Fire children often struggle with stress, worry, and sadness
- 37% of firefighters have contemplated suicide
These numbers represent real families, real stories, and real struggles — and they’re exactly why Fire Family Strong exists.
We are here to bring hope, connection, and support to every corner of the fire community.