KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month, a month meant to highlight the health dangers firefighters face as part of their jobs and to advocate for more legislative support to keep crews healthy.
The International Association of Firefighters said in 2023, around 63% of firefighters whose names were added to the Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial died from occupational cancer. The organization works with the Firefighter Cancer Support Network to make sure firefighters have the tools and guidance they need to prevent cancer and to support departments whose members were diagnosed with cancer.
"We have about a 9% higher rate of cancer than the average population in the United States. So, during this month, not only do we want to bring awareness to the general public about our risks of cancer but also, we talk about it without employees," said Mark Wilbanks, a spokesperson for the Knoxville Fire Department.
He said the department also speaks with firefighters about ways to reduce the chance of cancer in their personal lives, such as by not smoking. KFD also talks about the importance of working to prevent cancer while on the job, such as by being conscious of dangerous fumes from building materials.
"Fires in the United States have evolved just like everything else. Today's materials are not what they were in the 1930s and 1940s. We were using a lot of natural fibers in the 1930s, 1940s, and even into the 1950s. When we get into the 60s and the 70s, we start seeing asbestos, and we start seeing what we call modern-day materials. The fabric in our furniture is made from hydrocarbons. Therefore, when it burns, it burns hotter and faster but it also puts off a lot of different fumes," said Wilbanks.
The department urges firefighters to continue wearing safety masks after a fire is extinguished, to make sure they don't breathe in dangerous fumes from burned materials.
"Fires are much more dangerous than they've ever been," said Wilbanks.
He also said retired firefighters may develop cancer from materials they were exposed to after leaving the job, when they may not have as much access to resources for support. Wilbanks said leaders in Knoxville are working to make sure they have support after retiring.
"Our goal is not only that the firefighter go home at the end of their shift, but they go home at the end of their career and have another 30, 40, or 50 years after their career to live a very healthy life and do the things they want to do," he said.