VIDEO: There are new, big changes to the way Phoenix firefighters are protecting themselves against cancer while they’re still at the scene, and they’re already seeing encouraging results.
Phoenix firefighter Capt. Nicole Minnick says she's learned a lot. “We didn’t know what we know now,” she said.
More and more firefighters are passing away from work-related cancer, including Phoenix firefighters Rick Tells and Brian Beck this year. They were only in their 30s and 40s. “We just have a sense of responsibility to change the culture for the safety of us and our families,” said Minnick. So Phoenix Fire changed its entire protocol for gross decontamination immediately at a scene. They start with a low pressure wash down of each other, followed by using EMS gloves to load hoses that were exposed to carcinogens in the fire.