When a house fire in Aurora took the lives of two children and injured seven other residents in September, neighbor Nan Page-Stevens saw an image that would stick with her, probably forever. A firefighter carrying a one-year-old child in his arms.

“Out came this big firefighter. He had the baby literally in his arms. He was running to the first ambulance. And now, that baby is gone,” Page-Stevens said after the incident on Sept. 21.

And while that incident will be burned in Page-Stevens’ memory — and the victims continue to deal with the tragic losses — the firefighters involved go on to fight other battles, another potential tragedy just a call away.

How firefighters deal with the colossal stress, and how they continue giving their best effort to every call, is something department leaders like Allen Robnett, deputy chief of Member Services at Aurora Fire Rescue, have to think about.

Approximately 20% of firefighters and paramedics meet the criteria for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at some point during their career, according to a 2016 study from the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation estimates there are between 100 and 200 firefighter suicides every year.

Robnett said there’s no question that incidents like the fire that took two children have an effect on those who respond to them.

“We absorb our environment,” Robnett said. He notes that the mission of all firefighters is to “stop the loss” and keep situations from getting worse, no matter the circumstances.

“We’re kind of the last line of defense,” Robnett said. “When a citizen has thrown their hands up and said the situation is beyond them, they call us and we come every time. Sometimes we get there and it’s too late to help somebody, but it’s never too late to help the situation.”

A job not fit for everyone

Robnett — a firefighter in the Denver region for 34 years — recalled a situation he responded to that involved a girl around his daughter’s age. He noted that it bothered him for a long time.

“When you get to a call where something bad has happened, if you have some link to that call that reminds you of somebody significant or something that’s happened in your life, it does have an effect on you,” Robnett said.

But, as Robnett said, that’s something that firefighters have to be ready for. The nature of the job at hand. It doesn’t take a certain personality to be a firefighter, but it does take a want.

“It’s not the hero complex, it’s that sense of when you see something horrible on TV, you wish you could help,” he said. “You can’t stand sitting there and not being able to do something about it. That’s what drives people to the profession.”

Aurora Fire Rescue hires around 30 new firefighters every year. In 2023, the department received around 700 applicants. Final applicants go through physical and psychological tests, helping the department decide if they are fit for the job.

Applicants fill out a personal history statement that highlights their lives. Then they go through a standardized psychological test that helps psychologists score a candidate’s maturity and ability to handle high stress.

The department looks at the “whole person perspective,” Robnett said. They weigh both physical and psychological attributes before making hiring decisions. Those chosen go through an academy that helps both train them for the field and lets them know about the trials ahead.

A small amount of candidates drop out of the job during the academy.

“Some people don’t have a real-world vision of what the fire service is and what we actually do,” Robnett said. He points toward applicants being unaware of the work schedule and physical demands.

Despite having time between calls and a schedule of 24 hours on and 48 hours off, Robnett states that there isn’t much time for rest.

“Yeah, they sit and watch TV or cook dinner, but it’s not relaxation,” he said. “Even when you sleep at the fire station, you aren’t really asleep because at any moment you could be knee-deep in the thick of an incident. You cannot relax.”

“The nature of their work, including repeated exposure to painful and provocative experiences, and erratic sleep schedules, can impose significant risks to their mental health,” according to a 2016 research paper by Ian H. Stanley, an assistant research professor at the University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, and others.

A battle at home

Though firefighters are ready and eager to help those they can, their mental health cannot be overlooked. Departments all over the country continue to bolster mental health efforts.

The Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance — founded in 2011 — works with departments nationally to increase mental health awareness.

The Colorado Firefighter Benefits Trust added a behavioral health program in 2023, providing reimbursement for firefighters receiving treatment.

Robnett noted that Aurora Fire Rescue has a “state-of-the-art” approach to mental health resources, including three different options for employees.

The department has a peer support program where firefighters can meet anonymously with another firefighter that is trained as a clinician.

Aurora also provides an Employee Assistance Program that gives responders six free meetings with a counselor per incident. Aurora also has the City of Aurora Addiction and Rehabilitation Services, providing treatment for workers that have developed issues.

Employees who go through the rehabilitation program will not lose their position or ability to be promoted, Robnett said.

Finally, the department has a direct contract with a clinical psychology firm that specializes in police, fire and military PTSD. All firefighters can receive services anonymously and without charge. Family members can also attend, free of charge.

“Very few departments have that option,” he said. “We are proud to provide that.”

Robnett added that outside activities are crucial to maintaining workplace health. During his career, he has participated in a plethora of hobbies.

“We have guys who are into extreme sports because they like that adrenaline. There are other people who are artists or entrepreneurs. Everyone has that thing,” he said. “I don’t know a firefighter who gets off of work and waits for the next shift to come.”

Be kind to yourself

When asked if firefighting is a thankless job, Robnett was quick to say no.

“It’s not thankless, but sometimes you have to thank yourself,” he said. “Sometimes you have to walk away and the only satisfaction you feel is knowing that you did some good.”

Even when tragedy does strike — like the two deaths and injuries in the September fire — firefighters must take pride in being there and trying their best to make things better.

“We don’t wish bad things to happen to people, but if bad things are going to happen, we want to be working that day,” he said. “There are no firefighters thinking ‘whew. I’m glad I was off that day because it looked like a bad day’ —no way.”