Cancer is responsible for more than 60 percent of job related deaths among firefighters in the United States according to NBC news.
Now, a station in the Chippewa Valley is hoping to eliminate that risk or at least reduce the high rate of cancer diagnosis. While being a firefighter is no doubt a dangerous job, the threat of cancer from being exposed to toxins can be deadly. It's prevalent here in the Chippewa Valley and throughout the United States that firefighters are becoming sick and dying from cancer,” said Allyn Bertrang, the deputy chief.
So when the new Fire Station 10 opened last year, decontamination was a priority. "I think in my career it's been I think 5 or 6 firefighters had cancer and one fatally,” said Capt. Tony Biasi of Eau Claire Fire Rescue. “So it's nice to know we are taking that information and we are putting it to prevent."