Physical Fitness to Be Focus of Safety Stand Down 2026
The campaign will focus on physical fitness and its role in reducing preventable injuries and deaths in the fire and emergency services during Safety Stand Down 2026, June 14–20.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Dec 16, 2025
Physical fitness will be the focus of Safety Stand Down 2026, scheduled for June 14–20, as fire service organizations emphasize the importance of strength, endurance, and long-term health in protecting firefighters on the job.
Firefighting is physically demanding work, and responders are increasingly called on to manage a broad range of emergencies. Organizers said maintaining physical fitness is critical to helping firefighters safely and effectively meet these demands throughout their careers.
Safety Stand Down 2026 will highlight the foundations of physical fitness, strategies for sustaining them over time, and approaches to long-term success for firefighters of all ages and capabilities. The official theme for the campaign will be announced in January, with planning tools, guidance, and educational resources to be released in the months leading up to the event.
Safety Stand Down is held annually during the third week of June and is a joint initiative of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Volunteer Fire Council, the National Fire Protection Association, the Fire Department Safety Officers Association, and the International Association of Fire Fighters. The campaign aims to reduce preventable injuries and deaths in the fire and emergency services.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the Content Editor for OH&S.