Firefighters face risks every time they respond to a call, including possible long-term dangers to their health.
But the current leading cause of death among firefighters may come as a surprise.
According to the International Association of Firefighters, heart disease was the former leading cause of death among firefighters. But that has now been displaced by occupational cancer, with 74 percent of the deaths added to the IAFF’s Memorial Wall each year directly attributed to cancer.
“It’s not going to be surprising to firefighters,” said Chad Davis, the President of the local IAFF with around 350 members across southwest Missouri. “We understand that our job is inherently dangerous, and what we’ve learned over the years is occupational cancer is now the number one danger.”