Fire Station Design to Reduce Firefighter Cancer Risk

Modern firefighter cancer prevention has shifted from focusing solely on fireground exposures to understanding what happens after the incident, particularly inside the fire station. Research increasingly shows that chronic, repeated exposure to carcinogens occurs through secondary contamination pathways such as diesel exhaust infiltration, off-gassing from contaminated PPE, and the migration of soot and particulates into living and sleeping areas. Fire stations can either interrupt these pathways through intentional design or unintentionally amplify them.

Large-scale epidemiological studies conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health have demonstrated higher cancer incidence and mortality rates among firefighters compared to the general population. Diesel exhaust has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as carcinogenic to humans, with strong associations to lung cancer and emerging links to other cancers. These findings establish the fire station as a critical control point for exposure reduction.

A foundational principle in cancer-aware fire station design is the use of contamination zoning. Stations should be organized into hot, warm, and cold zones that physically separate contaminated spaces from clean living environments. Apparatus bays and equipment repair areas represent the primary source zones. Transition areas provide controlled movement and decontamination. Living quarters are protected clean zones. This zoning approach mirrors industrial hygiene and healthcare design principles and is endorsed by national firefighter labor and safety organizations.

Diesel exhaust control is one of the most critical design considerations. Effective stations rely on direct source capture at the tailpipe combined with mechanical ventilation strategies that maintain negative pressure in apparatus bays and positive pressure in living areas. Shared HVAC systems or return air pathways between these spaces significantly increase contamination risk and should be avoided. Airflow must always move from clean to dirty spaces, not the reverse.

The design of return pathways for firefighters following incidents is equally important. Stations should include a defined decontamination corridor that guides personnel from the apparatus bay through doffing, hand and face washing, and showering before entering living spaces. This sequence should be intuitive and efficient, making the clean option the easiest option.

Personal protective equipment cleaning and handling must be treated as a health intervention rather than a convenience. Stations should include dedicated PPE laundering and drying spaces designed with appropriate ventilation, containment, and workflow separation. Turnout gear should never be stored in sleeping quarters or personal vehicles. National standards governing PPE care and ongoing research into cleaning validation reinforce the need for purpose-built facilities within stations.

Material selection and interior finishes further influence contamination persistence. Hard, non-porous, cleanable surfaces are preferred in bays and transition areas, while soft finishes should be limited to protected clean zones. Floor drains, hose bibs, and layouts that support routine wet cleaning are essential.

Finally, a cancer-aware fire station must be commissioned as a system, not simply occupied. Pressure relationships, ventilation performance, and exhaust capture systems should be tested under multiple operational conditions. Crews must be educated on how the building protects them and how certain behaviors can defeat those protections. When design, engineering, and operations align, the fire station becomes a powerful tool in reducing long-term cancer risk.

References

• Daniels, R. D., et al. (2014, 2015). Mortality and cancer incidence in a pooled cohort of U.S. firefighters. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
• International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Diesel and gasoline engine exhausts and some nitroarenes. IARC Monographs, Volume 105.
• International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). Fire Station Design: Best Practices to Reduce Exposures.
• U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). Safety and Health Considerations for the Design of Fire and Emergency Medical Services Stations.
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Health Hazard Evaluation Reports on diesel exhaust exposure in fire stations.
• NFPA Research Foundation. Studies on turnout gear contamination and validation of cleaning procedures.
• NFPA 1851. Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting.
  

Jeff Meston, retired Fire Chief/CalChiefs Grants Manager