Firefighters from across the Commonwealth walked to the Capitol demanding better protection from deadly diseases contracted on the job, like cancer.
They want new legislation enacted to help with prevention and workers compensation.
Firefighters say that soot contains carcinogens, which are very dangerous.
"I had to fight the system, it's been almost two-and-a-half years now of legal battles, of fighting the system and unfortunately my claim was denied," Stafford County firefighter Steve Weissman, who is currently battling prostate cancer, said. "My claim was denied because I couldn't relate the exact chemical that I was exposed to over my career, 40 years as a firefighter."
Just last year, retired Richmond firefighter David Creasy lost his battle to cancer, as did Hanover Assistant Fire Chief Henri Moore, who died in 2017.