It's not just the fire that presents a danger.
For firefighters, it's common to be exposed to a range of harmful toxins while extinguishing flames. Some of those toxins have been shown to increase the risk of developing cancer.
A bill, which has passed the Senate and is in the House of Representatives, calls for the creation of a national firefighter cancer registry. TThe registry would be managed by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, according to a release from Sen. Charles Schumer. The registry would compile the incidences, make anonymous data available to researchers, and allow for increased collaboration between firefighters, experts and those investigating the links between the profession and the illnesses.
Rep. Chris Collins said the House of Representatives is expected to pass amended legislation in the coming weeks.