Fighting Fire With Fire-y Fitness

Sarah Apgar knows better than most what it takes to withstand the rigors of her dangerous work. You need specific strengths to battle a fire, and that includes carrying heavy gear.

A volunteer EMT and firefighter with the Halesite Fire Department in Huntington, Apgar, who works full-time as a construction director, understands it takes stamina to be an effective firefighter.

“There are a number of injuries in fire departments,” she said.

Those injuries are musculoskeletal, her research revealed. Worse, a number of firefighter deaths are triggered by heart attacks or exertion.

So Apgar, a U.S. Army veteran who completed one deployment in Northern Iraq, looked for the best way to help firefighters beat the odds. The result?

Fitfighter Training, a Huntington-based provider of a patent-pending exercise tool that mimics the density of water and feel of a fully charged fire hose. The hose is designed for targeted fitness training for firefighters. Also available are circuit training programs that include a series of exercises to help firefighters build strength.

Apgar spent 18 months developing the product, using recycled fire hoses filled with premium steel.

The product is already used by the FDNY Fire Academy – “the gold standard,” Apgar said.

That nod of approval is triggering inquiries from new prospects. Yet, gaining clients will likely present new challenges, including scalability. Apgar does much of the production in her garage, and also works with a fabricator that handles the stitching.

But such details are not deterring Apgar. If anything, she seems to enjoy the push to gain traction in the market.

Recently, Apgar presented the product to the Northport Fire Department.