Applications for Grant to Help with Firefighter Fitness Open

A group of firefighters dedicated to fitness have opened a grant application period to help fire departments attain workout equipment. The award also comes with fitness instruction to help firefighter attain their health and wellness goals.

The “Strength is Our Foundation” grant, from 555 Fitness, has already been awarded to two departments.

555 Fitness started in April 2013 when a group of firefighters set out to provide free workouts and fitness advice to others through a Facebook page.

“I wanted these workouts to be anywhere from five to 20 minutes,” said co-founder Larry Manasco, a fire captain in Fort Worth, Texas. “On 99 percent of the fires you get on, your work is done in that time period.”

“Many of the workouts that are on the market go for 45 to 60 minutes, but we wanted to mimic fireground operations,” Manasco added. He is a CrossFit certified Level 1 Coach.

555 Fitness workouts are called “Honor Workouts” and each was developed to honor the 343 firefighters who died on Sept. 11 and are published daily except Sundays.

In June 2014, 555 Fitness and Again Faster presented the Stephenson, Mich., Volunteer Fire Department with the first “Strength is Our Foundation” grant.

The equipment included a Concept 2 rowing machine, medicine ball, squat stand, workout bench, kettlebells and barbell. Again Faster, a CrossFit gear manufacturer, made customized 555 Fitness “Never Forget” competition bumper plates that are used on the weights.

Less than a month ago, the Upper Pine River Fire Protection District in Colorado received the second grant.

The day after the $3,000 worth of equipment was dedicated at Station 5, Manasco spent the day with the Upper Pine River firefighters showing them how to use the various equipment. Before he left, presented them with a binder full of workouts.

“They have implemented mandatory daily workouts that the crews must do," Manasco said after talking with firefighters there. "The officer needs to plan the workouts into their daily schedule."

The grant application period opened Monday and closes on Jan. 14.  You can apply at http://555fitness.com/pages/grant-program.

Manasco said they are looking for departments that already have a focus on fitness and need some help taking it to the next level. 

"We want to help strengthen fire departments who (sic) have already committed to firefighter fitness and put it to a good, long-term use," he said. "We don't want to donate it, and then find out it's being used as the most expensive towel rack in the station."

The “Strength is Our Foundation” grant program is fully funded by the sales of 555 Fitness t-shirts, stickers and donations from 555Fitness.com.

The other two grant application periods are May and August.

You can find their staff at the Firefighter Throwdown during Firehouse World in San Diego, Jan. 27-28.