Occupational Cancer is Killing Fire Fighters
Occupational cancer is claiming the lives of more fire fighters than any other cause, including fires and other on-scene incidents. The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) are committed to reversing this trend.
During the 2025 Fire Fighter Cancer Awareness Month, the IAFF and FCSN will partner to deliver targeted education and best practices and resources to reduce the impact of cancer on fire fighters.
This year’s Fire Fighter Cancer Awareness Month highlights comprehensive strategies to reduce cancer risk throughout a fire fighter’s life. This includes understanding legislative presumptions for cancer coverage, addressing male and female reproductive cancers and their impact on fire fighters, providing behavioral health support for those facing a cancer diagnosis, and empowering fire fighters to advocate for their health at throughout their career.
This month-long campaign will allow fire fighters to participate in weekly calls to action and highlight success stories to help end the epidemic of cancer in the fire service.
“Our job is dangerous; every fire fighter knows we may one day sacrifice our own life in order to save another’s,” says IAFF General President Edward Kelly. “But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do everything possible to make the profession safer. Education is a critical tool in the fight against occupational cancer. That’s why the IAFF and the FCSN are committed to raising awareness this January about actions fire fighters can take to stay healthy and safe.”
“It is a well-established reality that the title of fire fighter comes with a significant risk of developing occupational cancer,” says Bryan Frieders, CEO of the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN). “For the past 20 years, the Firefighter Cancer Support Network has been at the forefront of the fight against this devastating disease, offering immediate support to fire fighters and their family members during their most critical moments. The need for awareness and education about firefighter occupational cancer cannot be overstated. FCSN is proud to stand alongside organizations like the IAFF, who have made the health and well-being of their members a top priority.”
About the Firefighter Cancer Support Network
Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) provides critical assistance for career or volunteer, active or retired fire fighters, emergency medical service providers, and their immediate family members who have been diagnosed with cancer. They deliver valuable post-diagnosis resources followed by unique badge to badge, one-on-one mentorship from one of their 220 fire-service mentors who have first-hand knowledge about battling cancer. They share their survivor’s journey about their types of cancer, their own experiences with testing and treatments, and offer valuable insight into the recovery process. firefightercancersupport.org
About the International Association of Fire Fighters
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is the driving force behind nearly every advance in the fire and emergency services in the 21st century. Representing over 352,000 professional fire fighters, emergency medical workers, and rescue workers, IAFF members protect more than 85 percent of the population throughout the United States and Canada. www.IAFF.org.
