Firefighters getting cancer at an alarming rate

Local firefighters say they have the best job in the world: saving people who need them most, often by rushing into burning buildings.

"I love what I do," Anthony Fanning, a 15-year Dayton EMT and firefighter, said. "Even if it's a dire situation, they know we're there to help them. That's the best part about it."

Fanning was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2011. He went through surgery and endured six months of chemotherapy. He said there is a good chance his job caused his disease, but people don't always see the connection.

"If a building collapses on us, that's an obvious injury. If we get burned on a fire scene, it's an obvious injury. Cancer creeps in there. We're exposed to these chemicals, and the cancer creeps into us, we don't even know it," Fanning said.

Mark Dullea has been fighting fires for 30 years. The Dayton EMT and firefighter was diagnosed with basal cell skin carcinoma in 2016. He said that the mentality for firefighters has changed.

"It used to be the dirtier your stuff was, the cooler you were. It was kind of a badge of honor or thing like that, and now it's very apparent that that is not a good thing," Dullea said.

Firefighter: Cancer should be part of workers comp Dayton firefighter Anthony Fanning says cancer should be part of workers comp.

Research backs that up-- it shows that firefighters are seriously risking their long-term health. Experts say they are three times more likely to develop certain cancers because of the toxins they are exposed to at fire scenes. They have a 68-percent chance of developing cancer in their lifetime and a 14-percent chance of dying of cancer, according to the National Fire Prevention Association.

The Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 27 earlier this year. It would provide workers compensation benefits for a specific list of cancers. It also offers firefighters paid time off during treatment, as well as survivor benefits for families. The bill is in a house committee right now, and lawmakers say they expect it to move forward as soon as November.

"Right now, this is the furthest we've ever gotten. Before we've never even gotten out of committee," says Jim Burneka, a member of Local 136 whose been fighting against occupational cancers for the last decade. "We're getting there, but it's been an absolute struggle. This is the third time we've done this."

Opponents of Senate Bill 27 say taxpayers will inevitably wind up paying for cancers not caused by the job. It can be nearly impossibly to prove which is which. Those critics argue the possible $75 million price tags means cities will have less money to hire firefighters and provide them with the equipment they need.

Ohio Representative Mike Henney, (R-Clayton Township), said he is committed to the concept of occupation cancer benefits for firefighters but wants to see more research and revision on the bill itself. "That's one of those tough questions. Do I throw out good for perfection? I don't think it's there yet, but I think I'm going to get it there," Henney said.

Representative Fred Strahorn (D-Dayton, Jefferson Township), said he would vote for the bill as is. "I know we [as a state] tend to be fairly conservative and obviously these things have a cost, but in terms of people who commit their life to that kind of service or are willing to put their lives on the line for the public, I just feel like it's the least that we can do is to make sure we take care of them when they're injured," Strahorn said.

Regardless, Ohio firefighters agree that more attention needs to be placed on cancer prevention in fire departments.

"Ohio is, I don't want to say we're dragging our feet, but we're really behind the curve when it comes to allowing for these cancers," said John Russell, a 22-year veteran firefighter and president of Huber Heights local 2926. Russell says departments are focusing on prevention more than ever: getting gear off as soon as possible, showering often, prohibiting equipment in living areas, and washing uniforms often.