Fire Department Cancer Reduction Program

Author: Retired Fire Chief Jeff Meston, Co-Principal Investigator Firefighter Cancer Prevention and Research Program, University of California Davis

Cancer is the leading cause of death in the U.S. fire service today — a fact that holds true when examining total firefighter mortality, not just acute, on-duty incidents. Over the past decade, occupational cancer has consistently accounted for roughly 60–70 percent of firefighter line-of-duty deaths recognized by major fire service organizations. It has surpassed traumatic deaths and cardiac events when viewed across a firefighter’s career and post-retirement period.

This program establishes a department-wide, occupational cancer exposure reduction system. It is based on the established scientific consensus that occupational exposure as a firefighter is carcinogenic to humans, and that modern wildland fires, WUI incidents, and urban conflagrations materially increase cumulative exposure risk over a firefighter’s career. The program is prevention-focused, exposure-based, and designed to reduce dose, not merely raise awareness.

This program applies to all sworn personnel, career and volunteer, including line staff, officers, command staff, and members assigned to wildland, WUI, structural, special operations, prevention, and recovery operations.

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