OKEECHOBEE — Firefighters risk their lives to save others, and the risks don’t stop when the fire is out. Exposure to smoke and dangerous chemicals means firefighters have a 14% greater chance of dying from cancer than the general public.

According to the International Association of Firefighters, 67% of firefighters recognized on their Firefighters Memorial Wall between 2002 and 2020 died of cancer.

At their Jan. 12 meeting, the Okeechobee County Board of Commissioners declared January 2023 as Fire Fighter Cancer Awareness Month, “as we collectively work together to bring increased public awareness to the danger fire fighters face day-to-day being exposed to cancer causing carcinogens.”

The proclamation explains:

“The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) have declared January as Fire Fighter Cancer Awareness Month.

“Firefighters have a 9% greater chance of being diagnosed with cancer and 14% greater chance of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population; with studies finding a direct correlation between the chemical exposures fire fighters experience on the job and their increased risk for cancer.

“Cancer is the most dangerous under-recognized threat to the health and safety to all firefighters, with occupational cancer being the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in the fire service,” the proclamation continues.

“Forty-nine states and 12 provinces recognize cancer as a presumptive workers’ compensation claim for fire fighters; and early detection of cancer through routine screening leads to earlier treatment, and better disease outcomes, including improved survival and reduced morbidity.

“The noble profession of firefighting already comes with a myriad of dangerous and life-threatening risks, additional awareness, and support for the increased exposure to cancer causing carcinogens is paramount to the safety of those that choose this profession,” the proclamation states.

“The statistics are just startling for firefighter who suffer cancer at a greater risk than the general population,” said Okeechobee County  Fire Rescue Chief Ralph Franklin. 

“Every firefighter has two sets of gear,” he explained. Every station has extractors and driers so if a set of gear gets dirty, they can clean it.

“We have yearly inspections for the safety of the gear,” Franklin continued. Firefighters also have yearly physicals including screenings for early detection of cancer.

He said they have also received grants from the state to obtain more safety equipment.