By Theodore Kim
The Dallas Morning News
PLANO, Texas — No strangers to peril or toil, Plano’s firefighters have met their match: their waistlines.
Concerned about the health of his ranks, Plano Fire Chief Hugo Esparza wants the department’s least-fit members to shape up or face reassignment, even termination.
But the new standards, which include gauging a firefighter’s body fat, have put the city at odds with its powerful firefighters union. The biggest donor to City Hall campaigns, the union supports the goal, but believes some of the rules are onerous.
“Firefighters are certainly not the poster children for nutrition, and we’re all for improving health,” said Scott Kerr, president of the Plano Firefighters Association.
“But obviously, we’re never happy about having our jobs on the line.”
Plano’s efforts come as many departments have underscored fitness, in large part, to help combat the pressures and sedentary nature of the job.
Dallas phased in a fitness regimen after several firefighters died from heart attacks in the 1990s and earlier this decade. Departments in Carrollton, Irving and Farmers Branch also have embraced health standards.
The quandary goes beyond Texas. In Boston, three of every four recruits were recently found to be overweight or even obese, according to published reports. National studies suggest firefighters are up to three times as likely to have heart problems as the general population.
One might think the job, which often involves lugging many pounds of rescue equipment, goes hand in hand with fitness. But experts say firefighters face many obstacles to good health, including stress, erratic sleep habits and long hours spent waiting for the next emergency call.
“It’s not like we can go out for a mile jog and then get halfway out when an emergency happens,” said Chris Jefferson, president of the Plano union’s political arm.
The fitness push is somewhat new to Plano, one of only a handful of North Texas communities to maintain a top fire-suppression rating. Yet the new emphasis on health reflects a department that, like Plano itself, has grown both bigger and older. Many staffers have worked in Plano for more than two decades and are entering their 50s, records show.
The annual fitness tests, which Plano adopted from the Cooper Institute in Dallas, include monitoring body fat, strength and heart health. Standards are scaled to age and gender.
Firefighters who fall short will be reassigned to desk jobs and given up to a year to slim down. Those who do not comply could lose their jobs.
The union prefers a system that, instead, rewards firefighters for good fitness. The chief disagrees.
“My overall objective is the survival of firefighters,” Esparza said. “I think we set the bar pretty fair. If you’re going to ride on a firetruck or are assigned to operations, or are in a staff position, you’re going to have to meet these standards.”
The city began encouraging fitness in 2007 but made it mandatory in February, Esparza said. (At the Police Department, recruits must pass fitness exams. But no requirements exist for incumbent officers.)
As part of the city’s effort to shape up, Plano is investing millions into new fitness equipment and gym space at its 12 fire stations. Supervisors also are required to provide staff at least one hour of workout time per shift.
Bruce Glasscock, an assistant city manager overseeing public safety, said the stakes behind the effort are high.
“If there’s a fire and a firefighter has a heart attack, not only is that firefighter in jeopardy, but the entire crew at the event.”
Copyright 2009 Dallas Morning News