The International Association of Firefighters in cooperation with the International Association of Fire Chiefs organized the Fire Service Joint Labor-Management Wellness Fitness Initiative in 1997 to address the need for a holistic and non-punitive approach to wellness and fitness in the fire service. The Wellness Fitness Initiative is designed to provide the community with physically fit emergency responders and to provide emergency responders the avenue and tools to achieve physical, mental and emotional fitness goals. An effective program should also significantly reduce loss work time, workers compensation and disability. Fire District No.1 has adopted and funded a mandatory fitness program modeling the Wellness Fitness Initiative.

The goals of STFPD1s program are as follows:

1. Maintaining or improving physical fitness of personnel.
2. Reducing job-incurred illness, injuries and disabilities.
3. Establishing medical baseline records.
4. Validating department entry-level physical standards.
5. Developing safety consciousness in a fit emergency response force.

Emergency response notwithstanding, suppression personnel are assigned to participating fitness center for 60 minutes each shift for physical fitness training and exercise; 8 and 12 hour employees participate for 60 minutes twice a week in physical fitness training and exercise.

Fire District No.1 currently has over 20 certified Peer Fitness Trainers. These Trainers are certified through ACE (American Council on Exercise). They are available to assist all personnel with setting up training programs or help employees achieve fitness goals.