Every Firehouse Needs a Foghouse: Why Saunas Are the Next Best Safety Gear

Battling blazes leaves more than soot and a smokey smell - it brings lingering toxins, stress, and health risks that can stick long after the fire’s out. That’s why Minneapolis is heating things up: five fire stations now boast saunas, courtesy of the Minneapolis Fire Foundation, with plans to outfit the remaining 14 stations and training facility, too.

Why saunas? After returning from a burn, firefighters often emerge smelling like fire - even a hot shower doesn’t shake it off. But step into a sauna, and “the stench…would be gone,” one firefighter told Axios. Early results from a study by Dr. Zeke McKinney - based on 50 St. Paul firefighters - are suggestive: there’s a drop in carcinogen levels post-sauna. 

Despite the scientific gray area, some truths are undeniable: saunas are cardiovascular powerhouses, stress-busters, and mood elevators. Captain Michael Graves puts it simply: “This is one way to help get all those toxins out instead of keeping it in your body for a week.”

The Final Ember

Minneapolis is showing us something simple - saunas aren’t just luxury, they’re frontline defense. Every firehouse should have a Foghouse, because those who stand between us and danger deserve wellness from the inside out.

Links: MinneapolisAxios — AxiosStar Tribunefirefighternation.com