VIDEO: New Mexico fire departments are looking to help protect their firefighters from getting cancer.
The Bernalillo County Fire Department is now the first in the state to have fire engines built to help with that mission.
BCFD said the number of firefighter deaths from cancer is increasing nationwide, in part, because of the exposure to carcinogens often left on their gear.
"We're always looking at new initiatives and ways to keep our firefighters safe," Lt. George Asi said.
So, when BCFD firefighters wear their gear is changing.
BCFD is showing all of its stations the ins and outs of the department's two new $660,000 engines with compartments retrofitted outside the cab to hold bunker gear and tanks.
Now, when an emergency call comes in, firefighters will store their potentially tainted bunker gear in the compartments to avoid wearing it as long as possible and to keep it out of the cab.