The International Association of Women in Fire and Emergency Services is deeply saddened by the passing of our sister, Nicole Mittendorff.  Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and fellow firefighters in Fairfax County, Virginia during this difficult time.  Nicole’s death adds to the rapidly climbing number of suicides in the fire service. Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance has reported 116 firefighters in the United States committed suicide in 2015.  Behavioral health struggles in the fire service are often overlooked, but it affects every EMS and fire department in one form or another.  We encourage every department to reach out to the  Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance or the National Volunteer Fire Council’s Share the Load program for resources to help reduce these tragic statistics.