Franklin receives Municipal League award for Excellence in Fire Services

Recognizing the dangerous and stressful nature of the job, the city of Franklin and the Franklin Fire Department have worked together to develop a comprehensive, department-lead initiative designed to address not just the physical but mental, emotional, spiritual, and financial toll the job can take on firefighters. 

For the concerted effort of officials to provide a comprehensive, nuanced approach to the healthcare needs of firefighters, TML is proud to present the city of Franklin with an award for Excellence in Fire Services. The award will be presented Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at the 85th Annual Conference of the Tennessee Municipal League (TML) held at the Chattanooga Convention Center. 

The daily job of a first responder often means encountering people on the worst day of their lives and at the scenes of unmitigated tragedy. While Franklin’s firefighters work to keep their community safe, the city and department implemented the Behavioral Health Program to help address the needs of firefighters who often experience both physical and mental stress as a result of their efforts on behalf of others.  

Recent studies have found that firefighters have an elevated rate of suicide risk and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with firefighters twice as likely to complete a suicide attempt as the general population and 57% of firefighters experiencing some kind of PTSD.   

The program takes a holistic approach to wellness, recognizing how mental, spiritual, financial, and physical health are often intercommoned. The program engages the family of firefighters, who provide critical support networks, as well as the development of a robust peer support network that encourages trust and open communication between firefighters.   

Online resources and a comprehensive referral network have been developed to ensure firefighters have access to necessary support services while the program fosters interdepartmental collaboration with the Franklin Police Department and Mayor Ken Moore’s city-wide mental health initiative. The program also works to help firefighters set goals in all aspects of their lives.   

Addressing mental and financial concerns has both reduced stress and improved morale, helping firefighters be more focused and effective in their work. Addressing these issues ahead of time can also create cost-savings for long-term healthcare costs and has created a more positive work environment. Program offerings are also adjusted based on evolving needs with individual and small group assessments helping to determine where gaps in services are.  

Just like with the companion program for the police department, the program is designed to meet the specific needs of firefighters but is based on a similar program that is applied to all city departments. By changing the way the department approaches mental health and wellness, firefighters are having more open conversations, utilizing the peer support team, and involving community resources to aid in both issues related to work and home.   

Each year the Tennessee Municipal League honors cities throughout the state for overall excellence, improvement, specific outstanding programs, or department accomplishments. Award winners for 2025 include Chattanooga for Excellence in Energy Efficiency and Conservation; Cleveland for Excellence in Economic and Community Development; Farragut for Excellence in Innovation; Franklin for Excellence in Fire Services; Gatlinburg for Excellence in Municipal Governance; Greeneville for Excellence in Parks and Recreation; Jackson for Excellence in Police Services; Kingsport for Excellence in Economic and Community Development; and Pulaski for Small City Progress.