Kootenai County Fire Fighters, IAFF L2856

09/11/2026

09/11/2026

Twenty-five years.

On September 11, 2001, our nation watched the unimaginable unfold.

We watched firefighters run toward something everyone else was running from. We watched them climb stairwells carrying the weight of an oath they had taken long before that morning.

343 FDNY firefighters never came home.

They weren’t thinking about becoming symbols. They weren’t trying to become heroes.

They were simply doing their job.

Serving strangers. Protecting their community. Standing beside their brothers and sisters.

And they kept climbing.

Today, 25 years later, there is now an entire generation of Americans who never experienced September 11th. They never watched those events unfold in real time. They don’t remember where they were when the towers fell, the silence that followed, or the incredible unity that swept across our country afterward.

For those of us in the fire service, that makes our responsibility even greater.

We have to remember for them.

We tell the stories. We speak their names. We teach the traditions. We remember the 343 who died that day, and we remember the countless firefighters, first responders, survivors, and others who have suffered and died in the years since from illnesses connected to their service at Ground Zero.

But remembrance cannot exist only one day a year.

We honor their sacrifice by what we do now.

Every time we answer the bell.

Every time we put someone else’s emergency ahead of ourselves.

Every time we train the next firefighter, take care of a brother or sister, stand up for one another, and serve our communities with professionalism and courage.

The fire service of September 11th is now being carried forward by firefighters who were children that morning and increasingly by firefighters who weren’t even born yet.

That is how a legacy survives.

Twenty-five years later, the responsibility has been handed to us.

We will remember.
We will teach those who came after us.
And we will keep climbing.

Never Forget.

IAFF Local2856
Kootenai County Fire Fighters

09/10/2026

L2856 Green shift firefighters spent the morning breaking a sweat and sharpening skills.
We are proud of our brothers and sisters and their dedication to our craft.

🛠️ IRON• SHARPENS• IRON🛠️

09/10/2026

Thank you First Responder Clinician Support Team

NEW EPISODE LIVE NOW

Therapist Nicole Nester Gray | Caring for Those Who Care for Us | CR #59

Nicole Nester Gray has spent 35 years in mental health and 20 of them working with first responders. She founded the First Responder Clinician Support Team, built entirely on trust, culture, and showing up when it matters most.

In this episode:

Why first responders need a therapist who truly understands their world. How her team is vetted both clinically and culturally to earn that trust. And how being prepared in advance allowed her team to respond immediately during one of the hardest days the Idaho first responder community has faced.

The people who care for everyone else deserve to be cared for too.

Listen now on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

https://youtu.be/eLv_MDm3TQU

Stay sharp. Stay resilient.

If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Su***de and Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential, and available 24/7. Call or text 988.

09/07/2026

Kootenai County Firefighters L2856 wishes everyone a safe Labor Day.

08/25/2026

What an incredible outcome! Thank you for coming by Gary.
So proud of our Brother and Sisters and grateful for the quick response of our PFPD family.

On April 25, 2025, Gary went into cardiac arrest.

Post Falls Police Department officers arrived first and immediately began CPR, with Kootenai County Fire & Rescue crews arriving shortly after to continue his care.

Today, Gary is here because of the quick actions of those first responders and the strong partnership between our agencies.

Early CPR saves lives. Strong partnerships save lives.

We’re grateful to work alongside PFPD every day to serve our community — and even more grateful when we get to see outcomes like Gary’s. ❤️

08/24/2026

Please consider donating in support of this amazing initiative!

08/24/2026

The FJH Initiative wasn't just born out of a desire to do good. It was built to extend a lifetime of service. Battalion Chief Frank J. Harwood dedicated his life to protecting and serving others. Today, we channel that same spirit into standing beside first responder families and guiding the next generation.

True strength is built through community, connection, and facing hardships together.

Learn more at FJHInitiative.com