When a firefighter responds to the scene of an emergency, there are often risks — from smoke and fire to active shooters.
Over the past several years, fire departments and emergency medical providers throughout the country have started to consider another risk — the increasing rate of suicide among firefighters and emergency personnel.
“Firefighter suicides have outpaced line-of-duty deaths for four years now,” said Dr. Sara Lapacka with the Arizona-based Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance. Earlier this fall, Lapacka came to Skagit County to conduct a workshop to help local first responders learn how to better address their mental health.