PTSD, suicide, and mental health issues are plaguing fire and EMS first responders. The first responders in our community put their physical and mental health at risk day in and day out for the well-being of others, and for that, we owe them a great debt.
We, at Fire Watch Foundation, have seen first hand the toll that a traumatic event can have on the mental health of first responders, and as a result have also seen the gaps in the mental health resources available to them, especially on a local level. Our goal is to help bridge those gaps and ensure that every first responder has access to the mental health resources they deserve.
Amy is a mom of two, the wife of a firefighter since 2012, a baker, and a lifelong resident of Mt. Juliet, TN. She has been on her own mental health journey for the past four years and has worked with a trauma informed therapist who utilizes EMDR therapy to help heal trauma with great success. Mental health is something that is very important to Amy, and she is grateful to have the opportunity to help others on their mental health journeys.
In August of 2023, Amy’s husband, Kenny, was on shift with the Mt. Juliet Fire Department, and was on the scene of a fire at an apartment complex, when the breezeway of the floor above him collapsed. He suffered full-thickness burns to his head, face, and hands, and spent 22 days in the Trauma and Burn ICU’s at Skyline Medical Center.
Over the next few months, Amy began to see how, in the aftermath of the fire, many of her and her husband’s dear friends who had been present at the fire scene were affected mentally and emotionally. She witnessed how the fire impacted her children, and saw that all of the changes in schedule and routine, paired with facing their father’s mortality, was a lot for their little hearts and minds to take in. Then, in February 2024, Amy received her own PTSD diagnosis. During this time she began to research what resources were available to help with trauma and PTSD, and while she did find some great resources, she realized that there remains a need in the first responder community, especially locally, for more first responder focused support. Since she didn’t want to sit by and watch the people she loved suffer, and baking them cookies only cures so much, she started brainstorming, and Fire Watch Foundation was born.
Amy Hudson, Founder
Colter Burt is originally from Glendale Arizona, where he was born and raised until 2022, when he, his wife, and 2 daughters made the move to Tennessee. Colter and his wife, Kayla, were high school sweethearts and got married a year after they graduated high school in 2013. He currently works as a paramedic with the Mount Juliet Fire Department, and has been in EMS for almost 12 Years. Over those 12 years Colter has worked and excelled in many roles. He started out in a nursing home, and then worked for one of the most decorated burn centers in the country. After that, he worked as a contract paramedic traveling the country, and is now back working in EMS at Mt. Juliet Fire Department. During his time in this field, Colter has seen his fair share of traumas and all of the baggage that accumulates with them. Unfortunately, he was never taught how to process or deal with the collateral damage when your baggage gets too full and spills over, and wants to see that change.
Colter’s goal with being a part of this organization is to help change the culture and address the deficiencies and lack of resources that many fire and EMS first responders, including himself, have experienced surrounding mental health and PTSD. Not only are there a lack of resources for first responders, but there are a lack of resources for spouses and family members of first responders that ultimately leaves them feeling helpless. With the knowledge he has now of the resources that are out there, such as family counseling and EMDR therapy, his hope is to make those resources known and available to others working in Wilson County and the surrounding areas.
Colter Burt, Paramedic
Ashley Smith moved to Nashville from Chicago in 2014, and and now considers it her home. She currently lives in Goodlettsville with her partner, Adam, and their two dogs, Rusty and Riley. They love taking their dogs hiking and hope to visit every Tennessee state park together.
Ashley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and therapist with over 15 years of experience in the field. Over the years, she has worked in disaster relief, residential treatment, emergency departments, psychiatric hospitals, and medical units. These experiences have allowed her to appreciate the profound impact that trauma has on people and their families. Recently, Ashley’s partner, Adam, and their family have experienced that firsthand when their brother in law, Kenny, was seriously injured during an apartment fire. Ashley is now excited and honored to work with Fire Watch Foundation in offering the much deserved education, resources, and support for first responders and their families.
Ashley Smith, LCSW
