At firehouses across Sullivan County, the work of responding to emergencies is being matched by a quieter, steady effort: taking care of the people behind the gear.
The Sullivan 180 Healthiest Fire Department Challenge is now at its midpoint, and departments are leaning into a mix of fitness, nutrition, and mental health activities designed to build long-term habits—and stronger teams.
“The Sullivan 180 healthiest fire department challenge is a health and wellness competition for Sullivan County fire departments that encourages physical, nutritional, and mental health activities,” said Nicole Blais of Sullivan 180.
Departments earn “turtle points” for completing activities and trainings with at least five members participating. Those points can translate into grant funding and awards at the end of the challenge—but the emphasis is on consistency over speed.
“Turtle points encourage slow, consistent, and sustainable acts towards a healthier lifestyle while supporting the firefighting community,” Blais said.
The program, she explained, grew out of a simple idea: first responders spend their days taking care of others, but their ability to do that depends on their own health.
“First responders are responding to incidents and emergencies around the community every single day. And so it really is important that they start by taking care of themselves,” she said.
This year, organizers added what they call a “point stacking model,” encouraging departments to combine physical, nutritional, and mental health activities into short bursts—making it easier to build routines that stick.
From Competition to Culture
For many departments, the challenge has evolved beyond a points race.
Becca Wood, a firefighter with the Smallwood–Mongaup Valley Fire Department and the 2025 Challenge Captain of the Year, said participation has grown steadily over time.
“It was interesting at first—challenging, especially as it says in the title,” Wood said. “Trying to get them to really understand what it was all about… knowing that it wasn’t just about eating healthy but doing other things like going on walks.”
Those early efforts—walks, workouts, and even informal gatherings—helped shift how members think about health.
“It was really nice seeing how over the past couple years that the members have been a little bit more involved and trying to be as healthy as they can,” she said.
Along the way, something else took root: connection.
A kickball tournament hosted in Mongaup Valley became a turning point.
“Yeah, we were playing against each other, but it was something that the teams haven’t done since we had a softball league years ago,” Wood said.
Small Steps, Shared Momentum
At the halfway mark, Blais says creativity—and collaboration—are defining this year’s challenge.
“It has been great to see… how creative everybody is,” she said. “All the weekly walks to different places around the county—it’s really fun to see people exploring. But it’s also really fun… to see the departments collaborating.”
That collaboration can look like joint hikes, shared events, or even board game nights—activities that double as mental health breaks.
Keeping the Momentum
As the second half of the challenge begins, maintaining energy is key.
Wood’s advice to fellow captains: stay visible and keep trying new ideas.
The impact, she added, goes beyond physical fitness.
“They’re really thinking about their health more and really thinking about what they can do better for themselves—and then getting together more with the departments.”
A Preventive Approach
For Sullivan 180, the challenge is part of a broader focus on prevention.
“We know that first responders definitely have an increased risk of things like cardiovascular events and cancer just due to the nature of being a firefighter,” Blais said.
That’s why some departments are incorporating regular health monitoring into their routines—like monthly blood pressure and weight checks.
“They’ve seen really great numbers… and really great changes in those numbers that they’re really proud of,” she said.
Looking Ahead
With months to go, the competition is still wide open. But for participants, the outcome is about more than rankings.
“I know it’s a competition and we’re competing against each other, but it’s really great to see them all working together,” Blais said.
Back in Mongaup Valley, Wood is looking forward to upcoming events—including another kickball tournament and a long-running community 5K.
“It’s pretty exciting to see… getting teams together again and doing that,” she said.
Editor’s note: Sullivan 180 is a financial supporter of Radio Catskill.
Image: Becca Wood (foreground), a firefighter with the Smallwood–Mongaup Valley Fire Department and the 2025 Challenge Captain of the Year, leads colleagues on a hike in Smallwood. (Sullivan 180)