January is Fire Fighters’ Cancer Awareness Month
Fire fighter occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in the fire service.
In 2023, more than 75% of the names of fire fighters added to the IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Wall of Honor in Colorado Springs, Colorado, were of members who died from occupational cancer.
In partnership with the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN), the IAFF has designated January as Fire Fighter Cancer Awareness Month to provide fire fighters the necessary tools and guidance to develop life-saving protocols for cancer prevention and to support those with a cancer diagnosis within their departments.
In 2023, Federal Bill C224: An Act to establish a national framework for the prevention and treatment of cancers linked to firefighting. This enactment provides for the development of a national framework designed to raise awareness of cancers linked to firefighting with the goal of improving access for firefighters to cancer prevention and treatment. The enactment also designates the month of January, in each year, as “Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month”.
Bringing increased public awareness to occupational cancer in the fire service will help generate greater legislative support for states and provinces to establish presumptive disabilities for all cancers affecting fire fighters.
