CEDARBURG — With the help of local businesses and organizations, the Cedarburg Fire Department was able to create a workout room for its volunteers.
This is the first-ever workout space for the Fire Department, which is located at Station 1.
The project was spearheaded by CFD firefighter/ AEMT Jason Peterson, who believed it was important for the Fire Department to have a place for volunteers to work out. He said a big part of firefighting is fitness. “If you’re not in shape, it doesn’t make a difference if you know what you’re doing,” he added. “You can’t deal with the heat, the stress and everything else if you’re exhausted before you even start working.”
Peterson said it was very easy to get exercise equipment. The Fire Department received donations such as exercise bands and medicine balls from Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin-Cedarburg Physical Therapy, treadmills from Anytime Fitness in Cedarburg and weights, racks and benches from Concordia University Wisconsin.
“The donation is an example of the clinic’s mission to promote the health of the Cedarburg community, and to express gratitude to Cedarburg firefighters for their selfless dedication and service,” according to a statement from Cedarburg Physical Therapy.
Peterson said they created a separate workout space by splitting one of their training rooms in half. Zuern Building Products & Design and Blain’s Farm & Fleet donated building materials.
Peterson and other firefighters used their free time to build a new room for the exercise equipment.
Peterson said that now there are a lot more volunteers who hang out at the firehouse, which is good if they get a call.
“More people that are at the firehouse, the better it is for calls,” he said.