Firefighter Fitness with Julian Serrano of Prepared to Fight Fire

There are countless reasons people become first responders. For South Florida firefighter and smoke diver Julian Serrano, it wasn’t just about fighting fires. It was about becoming someone he could truly be proud of.

“Growing up, I always admired firefighters,” Serrano said. “I knew if I became one, I'd be super proud of who I was and know that I was doing something bigger than myself.”

But Serrano’s journey to his idealized self was not so straightforward.

How to Grow Through Failure

Serrano was just 18 when he first tried out for the fire service. He was young, inexperienced, and, by his own admission, overconfident. “I had a huge sense of false self-confidence,” he said. “I thought I was better than I was and knew more than I did.” That mindset led to mistakes, and eventually, failure.

“I came into this career overweight and mentally unfit. I actually failed out of fire school the first time,” he said. “After failing, I went home and struggled for three or four months. Then I made the decision to get in shape and go back.

“That decision—to put in the work and make the change—is what catapulted my life and career.”

When Serrano committed himself to improving his mental health and physical fitness, he didn’t just pass the second time around—he thrived.

The Power of Mentorship

Serrano is quick to point out that his success didn’t happen in a vacuum. When he got hired at his first department in Marion County, Florida he met three men who would forever change his life: Daniel Jodoin, Tim Moody, and Tony Gillian. These fellow firefighters would show him how to become the best firefighter and best person possible.

“I came from a very comfortable background, and the environment I entered in my first department was completely foreign to me. It was sink or swim—and I wasn’t going to sink,” Serrano said. “I learned how to be a man, a leader, and a firefighter. Those three mentors helped me overcome the shortcomings I brought into the fire service.”

While there was no one specific moment that turned his mentality around, Serrano said it was the constant support and active leadership that showed him how to grow.

“They didn’t just say, ‘Do as I say,’ they said, ‘Do as I do.’ They led from the front,” he said. “They empowered me. They pushed me to lead, to step out of my comfort zone. And they cared about me as a man—not just as a firefighter.”

The men formed a bond that still lasts to this day. “They’re lifelong friends and mentors—people I would die for,” Serrano said.

From Student to Coach

The lessons Serrano learned didn’t stay with him alone. As he grew in his career, so did his desire to give back. What started as posting workouts routines and motivational messages online evolved into a full-fledged online coaching company called Prepared to Fight Fire (PTFF)

PTFF focuses on more than just looking good out of your turnout gear. It’s about building a sustainable, healthy, 20- to 30-year career in the fire service—and developing the self-leadership required to thrive long-term.

“We don’t coach fitness programs—we coach skill sets,” Serrano said of his team at PTFF. “Fitness comes and goes. A transformation is forever.”

A Different Kind of Athlete

PTFF coaching includes strength and stamina training, but also mobility work, nutrition, mental conditioning, and goal setting. Serrano delivers all coaching online through a custom training app and Zoom check-ins, allowing him to serve firefighters across the country.

In addition to helping with functional fitness, PTFF seeks to help firefighters build a healthy, sustainable career—not just a healthy youth. “Firefighting is a 20- to 30-year career, and we want our clients to enjoy their retirement, not just survive the job,” Serrano said. “Unfortunately, many in the fire service burn out after 10 years, suffer injuries after 20, or end up on multiple medications by year 30. That’s a systemic issue—and it starts with leadership.

Living the Message

In Serrano’s eyes, his life experience is what sets him apart from many fitness coaches whose lives have been a direct upward path. He’s lived every step of the journey his clients are on. “I’ve been a firefighter who struggled to get hired. I’ve been the one who got in shape, then lost his way. I’ve been the trainee who just wasn’t good enough,” he said.

Through Serrano’s leadership, PTFF has grown into a community where success stories come full circle. Two of his full-time coaches started out as clients. One wanted to become a firefighter; the other was already high-level and looking to take the next step. Both succeeded in their goals and now help lead others.

The Mindset to Grow

Serrano believes leadership begins with self-reflection. “If you don’t put yourself in a position to grow, evolve, and develop these skill sets, you’ll keep doing what you’ve always done—and get the same results,” he said.

And when asked what advice he would offer to those looking to take the first step toward improvement, he doesn’t hesitate: “To become better, you must work on your weaknesses. At first, it was not fun. It's awkward, weird, and uncomfortable, but that's the only way we can improve.”

For more on Julian Serrano and Prepared to Fight Fire, visit PreparedToFightFire.com