Bowling Green Fire Department discusses Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month, and local fire departments are bringing awareness to the dangers firefighters face after the call.

The risks of firefighting go beyond the immediate risks of running into burning buildings. The long-term effects can often be overlooked.

The smoke and toxins that firefighters are exposed to and breathe in can heighten their risk of cancer.

According to the Bowling Green Fire Department, firefighters are 9% more likely to get cancer and 14% more likely to die from it than the general public.

Bret Smith, the deputy chief of Bowling Green Fire Department, said that BGFD has had three retired firefighters die from cancer over the last decade.

Taking the steps to be proactive toward preventing cancer is a priority at BGFD.

Smith said, “We’ve aimed at prevention. Now we’re looking at detection to see if we can catch something early.”

“To me, it just means the hope that our firefighters will not just go home safe at the end of the shift, but at the end of their career to be able to have a long longevity afterwards, to have many years of retirement with their family,” he added.

The Bowling Green Fire Department has received a $140,000 grant to provide cancer screening for their firefighters later this year and hopes to have funding to be able to do it for more years to come.