A California firefighter living in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, passed away over the weekend after battling lung cancer. Now George Gemind is being remembered for his decades of service. But his death is also pushing lawmakers to take cancer in firefighters seriously.
Studies show that cancer, not just smoke and flames, is now the leading cause of death for firefighters. Firefighters and lawmakers in Washington and Idaho are trying to reverse that deadly trend.
“One of the best things I ever did was become a firefighter,” Gemind said, when we interviewed him in 2017.
For 30 years, George Gemind battled fires in southern California.
His coworkers called him a firefighter's firefighter, saying he was instrumental in upgrading their fire equipment.
But after years of firefighting, he retired and came to call Bonners Ferry home.
When we interviewed George in October 2017, it was his first time being in a fire station since leaving California.
“That was four years ago,” he said.