PHOTO: Local firefighter Jeff Cunningham has to remember quite a bit of gear when he's running toward a fire. His dermatologist is hoping he remembers sunscreen, though he admits, at the time, "it's not one of my biggest worries." New research suggests maybe it should be, as firefighters might be at a higher risk than the general population (up to 80 percent more) for developing skin cancer and other cancers. It is unclear whether increased sun exposure is entirely to blame, as firefighters are also exposed to a variety of harmful chemicals in their daily duties. "Firefighters spend a lot of time outside, not in their firefighting gear," said Dr. Sarah Cipriano, a dermatologist at the University of Utah. "They're not always fighting fires, they are doing so many other things, so many other good things, and they deserve to be protected from the sun while they're doing it."