They risk their lives to protect our communities and now some are fighting for help to save their own lives.
Firefighter associations say there are mountains of research linking their job to a broad range of cancers. But many workers comp providers only cover a small portion of that list.
The problem is even worse for retirees. It can take years from when a firefighter is exposed to a dangerous chemical for a cancer diagnosis to surface, but under Texas law retirees are cut off from any line-of-duty benefits. Now there’s a fight to change that and protect the protectors.
"You're part of that family forever," said retired Arlington Firefighter Norm Phillips. It comes with an inheritance of tradition, deep connections and shared battles. For Phillips, that includes a shared disease.