Sedro-Woolley Fire Department officials would like to encourage their volunteers to keep fit.

With such a stressful and physically demanding job, the better condition a firefighter is in, the less complications they may have on the job, city fire officials said.

In 2007, approximately 52 firefighters in the nation experienced heart attacks while on scene, Assistant Fire Chief Todd Olson said. Heart attacks are the number one cause of death for firefighters, he said.

“If we’re in shape, that number is reduced,” Olson said.

Although the Sedro-Woolley Fire Department has not experienced any recent complications, its volunteers are taking precautionary measures by seeking donations of cardio machines for the volunteer department.

“We need to really promote physical fitness for firefighters to do such a physical job safely,” Olson said.

The city provided space in the newly remodeled fire station that would allow room for members of the volunteer firefighter association to house exercise equipment.

Free weights have been donated to the department to build strength, but no cardio machines are available for volunteer staff.

Sedro-Woolley Supervisor and Attorney Eron Berg said to his knowledge, the volunteer association did not request the city to provide funding for the exercise equipment.

A committee of volunteers are keeping their eyes peeled for a possible donation of commercial-grade cardio equipment, such as a treadmill, elliptical trainer, stair stepper or stationary bike.

The sturdier the equipment the better since more than 30 volunteers would be using the equipment on a regular basis.

Some of the city’s volunteer firefighters are exercising at local gyms while others are doing nothing at all, said Fire Chief Dean Klinger.

When exercise machines are available at the department, staff members are able to respond to calls quicker rather than being away from the department, Klinger said.

He said he’s almost positive the Sedro-Woolley Volunteer Fire Department is the only one in Skagit County that doesn’t provide cardio equipment to its volunteer staff.

There are a lot of staff in the department who are interested in having the equipment in-house, said Josh Carpenter, volunteer captain and president of the volunteer firefighter association. 

Many of the city’s firefighters feel they don’t have the time to work out, he said. Most of the volunteers come to their shift at the fire department after completing a days’ work from another job and don’t have time in between to exercise.

“It’s a proactive thing,” Carpenter said. “We see the need for it, we want to obtain what we can and try to do something. We’re at least making the attempt.”

For more information about making a donation, call the Sedro-Woolley Fire Department at 360-855-2252.