Eastern Carolina Firefighters Association

Nashville, NC

Cancer In The Fire Service

Cancer in the fire service is growing at an alarming rate.  Whether you are a career or volunteer firefighter, the risks are real.  A 2013 NIOSH study demonstrated that firefighters experience cancer at a rate higher than the general population. A Scandinavian study produced similar results.

Firefighters are exposed to more carcinogens than at any point in our history. The incidence of cancer has grown several-fold as the contents of structure fires have increasingly become synthetic, producing compounds and chemicals that cannot be accurately monitored-certainly not during a firefight.

From the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH):
Based on U.S. cancer rates:

  • Fire fighters in our study had a greater number of cancer diagnoses and cancer-related deaths.
  • These were mostly digestive, oral, respiratory, and urinary cancers.
  • There were about twice as many fire fighters with malignant mesothelioma, a rare type of
    cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.
  • Exposure to asbestos while fire fighting is the most likely explanation for this.
  • There were more cases of certain cancers among younger fire fighters.
  • For example, fire fighters in our study who were under 65 years of age had more bladder
    and prostate cancers than expected.

Read the findings from the NIOSH study here.

Here are a few more resource and informational websites:

Check out this cancer Fact Sheet from the NFPA.

First Responder Center for Excellence Research Related to Firefighter Cancer.

Centers for Disease Control and NIOSH Fire Fighter Resources.

Firefighter Cancer Support Network

  • Home
  • Bylaws
  • Board of Directors
  • Membership
  • Scholarships and Grants
  • Annual Public Safety College
  • Annual Rapid Intervention Crew School
  • Meeting Schedules
  • Annual Chief and Officer of the Year Awards
  • Fire Department Assistance
  • Fire Chief Resources And Information
  • Cancer In The Fire Service
  • How Can Our Department Host
  • How Do I Become A Board Member
  • Information For Vendors
  • Meeting Minutes
  • Life / Honorary Members
  • State-wide Fire Service Employment Opportunities
  • Volunteer Fire Service Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • Links

Weather Forecast

Ahoskie, NC
76°
sunny
88% humidity
wind: 5mph S
H 87 • L 69
85°
Sun
90°
Mon
94°
Tue
94°
Wed

Latest Tweets

  • Join us on July 14th in Perquimans County for our next meeting. Time ago 31 Days via Buffer
  • Last chance to apply for scholarships and SAFRE grant. They are due by 5/1! Time ago 62 Days via Buffer
  • Join us tonight at Havelock Tourist and Event Center at 6:30 pm for the meeting. Sharing important information abo… t.co/aE2jhJCJR9 Time ago 78 Days via Buffer

Follow @ECFFA on twitter.

Facebook Feed

Facebook Posts

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
Eastern Carolina Firefighters Association
1 month ago
Eastern Carolina Firefighters Association

#safre is shaping up to be another great conference!!South Atlantic Fire Rescue Expo Keynote Speaker: Rorke Denver, Navy SEAL Commander. New York Times Bestselling Author. Leader. Husband. Father.

Keynote Address: Thursday, August 11, 2022, Raleigh Convention Center

Biography

Commander Rorke T. Denver has run every phase of training for the U.S. Navy SEALs and led special-forces missions in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and other international hot spots. He starred in the hit film Act of Valor, which is based on true SEAL adventures. His New York Times bestseller, Damn Few: Making the Modern SEAL Warrior, takes you inside his personal story and the fascinating, demanding SEAL training program. In his second book Worth Dying For: A Navy SEALs Call to a Nation, Rorke tackles the questions that have emerged about America’s past decade at war–from what makes a hero to why we fight and what it does to us. Rorke was most recently seen on FOX’s American Grit. The series followed 16 of the country’s toughest men and women as they faced a variety of military-grade and survival-themed challenges set in the wilderness.

As assistant officer in charge of BRAVO Platoon at SEAL Team THREE, he was deployed to SOUTHCOM, the Central and South American Area of Operations. His platoon was the “alert” SEAL team for maritime interdiction, hostage rescue, counter-insurgency, and counter-narcotics. As SEAL officer aboard, Denver led his group’s response to a murderous uprising in the Ivory Coast nation of Liberia, launching advanced-force operations, conducting hydrographic beach reconnaissance, and helping to get U.S. Marines safely ashore.

In 2006, Denver was officer in charge of BRAVO Platoon of SEAL Team THREE in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province in one of the most combat-heavy deployments of any regular SEAL team since Vietnam. Stationed in Habbaniya, his team conducted over 200 missions including sniper operations, direct assaults, special reconnaissance, and ground patrols. Denver’s team has been widely credited with propelling the “Tribal Awakening” that helped to neutralize Iraq’s insurgency. Denver was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” for valorous action in combat.

After returning to the United States, Denver was appointed flag lieutenant to Admiral Joseph Maguire, commanding officer of Naval Special Warfare, traveling to Afghanistan and briefing Congress on SEAL operations. In 2009, he became First Phase officer of SEAL Basic Training including Hell Week, then rose to Basic Training officer. He went on to run all phases of training including advanced sniper, hand-to-hand fighting, communications, diving, and language.

Denver is the founder of Ever Onward, a fresh, new brand designed to use Navy SEAL principles to call leaders to take action, to suffer, and to be bold so they can perform at their highest levels. He is a highly-sought after speaker to companies and organizations and provides numerous innovative products and services to help teams and individuals live and perform at higher levels.

Full Conference & Free Expo Pass Registration:
FULL SITE LINK: whova.com/web/strat_202102/

Banquet Registration for Saturday, August 13, 2022: Link: ncstatefirefightersassociation.thundertix.com/events/195761

#PastPresentProgress #2022SAFRE #NCFireEducation #FirefighterEducation #HotClasses #NCFirefighters #NCFire #WeCantWaitToSeeYou #firefighterlife #firefighting #firefighter_brotherhood #firefighterposts #firefighterfamily #firefightershelpingfirefighters #firefighterintraining #firelife #firerescue #fireexpo #volunteerfirefighter #careerfirefighter #fireservice #firefightersofinstagram #firefighting #firefightersofinsta #firefightersofig #firedepartment #firetruck #fullyinvolved #firedept #firstresponders
... See MoreSee Less

#safre is shaping up to be another great conference!!
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • Likes: 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Eastern Carolina Firefighters Association
1 month ago
Eastern Carolina Firefighters Association

Happy Memorial Day! ... See MoreSee Less

Happy Memorial Day!
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • Likes: 5
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Eastern Carolina Firefighters Association
1 month ago
Eastern Carolina Firefighters Association

Check out this FIRE! Exhibit at the Cape Fear Museum ... See MoreSee Less

Check out this FIRE! Exhibit at the Cape Fear MuseumImage attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • Likes: 17
  • Shares: 5
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Eastern Carolina Firefighters Association
1 month ago
Eastern Carolina Firefighters Association

Congratulations!!! ... See MoreSee Less

Congratulations!!!Image attachmentImage attachment+Image attachment
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • Likes: 3
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 1

Comment on Facebook

Congratulations !

Eastern Carolina Firefighters Association
2 months ago
Eastern Carolina Firefighters Association

This class has been cancelled! ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • Likes: 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Load more

Contact Information

Eastern Carolina Firefighters Association
311 W H Hayes Lane
Whiteville, NC 28472

Follow Us

Website Statistics

Visits Today: 14
Visits Yesterday: 48
Visits Past Year: 26,862

Member Links

  • Member Login
  • Member Only News
  • Store
  • Account
  • Check Email
Site proudly maintained by the Eastern Carolina Firefighters Association
Site designed and hosted by FireCompanies.com

Copyright © 2022