Firefighter Cancer
The cancer resource page features news, information, videos, podcasts and feature articles about this massive health issue facing the fire service.
Sam Young approached police officers and firefighters on multiple occasions and asked for money, sometimes as much as $1,000
Funding and the unseen groundwork lead the barriers to faster firefighter cancer research and results
Joe Barr, 31, died of colon cancer on April 16; he was remembered as a great friend and hilarious guy
A unanimous vote allows regulators to mandate cleanup of PFAS-containing foam, require reporting and restrict its use as concerns grow over “forever chemical” contamination
The Secretary of Health and Human Services restores hiring for the World Trade Center Health Program, easing shortages that have delayed care and claims for thousands of responders and survivors
Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal is urging state officials to search for long-sought documents, as survivors and first responders continue to seek answers about what government agencies knew
A new law lets fire departments use state grant funding to cover up to half the cost of soybean-based fire suppression products, giving another PFAS-free option while supporting safer operations and agriculture
Smyrna Fire Department’s recognition highlights simple, low-cost habits, from gear cleaning to post-fire showers, that help reduce exposure and protect long-term health
Attorneys for survivors say the city is withholding critical Ground Zero exposure data despite previously uncovering dozens of boxes of related documents
NFFF’s Bill Webb, Firefighter Cancer Support Network receive national fire service leadership awards
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and Congressional Fire Services Institute honored Bill Webb and the Firefighter Cancer Support Network at the 2026 National Fire and Emergency Services Symposium
Quincy city councilors voted unanimously to replace all fire department gear after elevated levels of PFAS were found
Stay current on NIOSH program layoffs, the status of the National Fire Academy and changes to FEMA
The co-founder of HeartFit for Duty shares the common risk factors for cardiac and cancer challenges – and the simple exercise with the greatest impact
A divided Quincy City Council blocked funding for new turnout gear despite testing that found cancer-linked chemicals in the current equipment
Advocates and lawmakers warn staffing shortages at the World Trade Center Health Program are causing treatment delays for sick 9/11 responders and survivors
Amid growing concern about PFAS “forever chemicals,” a pilot study suggests turnout gear used during training may not be a major airborne exposure source
Lifetime funding secured for the WTC Health Program, but layoffs and a hiring freeze are delaying care
Vehicle-mounted systems extend protection beyond the bay, addressing cancer risk, space constraints and long-term maintenance challenges
Modern fire apparatus may meet emissions standards, but diesel exhaust can still linger inside stations – and firefighters’ lungs
Officials say the NIOSH-led registry is now the nation’s largest firefighter cancer cohort, using service histories linked to state cancer data to better track risk and guide prevention
Closing the hood-to-mask and hood-to-collar gap helps reduce heat stress and contaminant exposure at a critical interface in the turnout ensemble
Cooper died in June from occupational lung cancer after decades of service, and his family will receive $100,000 in state death benefits
City Council Speaker Julie Menin called for the city to make “every single file” public after an internal memo showed officials feared toxic exposure weeks after 9/11
The San Antonio Fire Department reports no firefighter cancer deaths since 2023, a significant improvement after eight line-of-duty cancer deaths were recorded between 2013 and 2023
With an increased risk of developing skin cancer, firefighters should follow simple steps to avoid sunburn
Celebrating the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation
Tacoma Lieutenant Matt Frank’s battle with melanoma underscores why firefighters face higher cancer rates and how departments are working to reduce exposure and improve early detection
My personal journey proves the power of NFPA 1582 physicals in detecting cancer and cardiac abnormalities
HHS confirmed it is reversing terminations that drew backlash from labor groups, firefighters, miners and other industries
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- National Firefighter Registry for Cancer goes offline following NIOSH layoffs
- Mass. FD’s ‘PFAS-free’ gear fails lab test, shows high toxic levels
- U.S. Forest Service reverses course, issues masks to wildland firefighters but keeps ban in place
- ‘The science is changing so fast': Mass. city votes no to purchase PFAS-free gear for firefighters
- Legislators launch bipartisan effort to save 9/11 health program from Trump administration cuts