Passage of legislation urged to cover firefighters who get cancer

by Ken Pienkowski

The New York State Senate, by a unanimous vote, approved presumptive cancer coverage for volunteerfire- fighters today (Senate 1411), placing the onus squarely on the Assembly to do the same. The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York applauds the State Senate for acting quickly on this legislation and urges the Assembly to quickly follow suit.

New York’s volunteer firefighters didn’t volunteer to get cancer. Thirty-five other states in the nation have already passed presumptive cancer legislation. New York’s paid firefighters already have this important coverage, but volunteers do not.The Assembly must act quickly to ensure the health and well being of New York’s volunteer fire service and pass this bill.

The newly passed bill extends the already existing Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law (VFBL) to cover all incidents of melanoma, as well as cancers of the digestive, hematological, lymphatic, urinary, prostate, neurological, breast and reproductive systems. It updates the VFBL, addressing the risks and dangers faced by today’s firefighters. New York State’s paid firefighters already have presumptive cancer coverage. Despite facing identical dangers, fires and cancers, volunteers do not enjoy this benefit.

Today’sfires are far more toxic than ever. Modern homes are built with synthetic materials and filled with an array of electronics and other substances that burn faster, hotter and produce a staggering array of carcinogens. Because of this, today’s firefighters are more likely to develop cancer than their predecessors. Peer-reviewed research published over the last decade shows that firefighters are 102% more likely than the general population to develop testicular cancer; 62% more likely to develop cancer of the esophagus and 26% more likely to develop breast cancer.

The volunteer fire service is an integral part of New York State’s culture and economy. Volunteer firefighters save New York between $3 and $4 billion each year, while providing emergency response and firefighting services to 89 percent of the municipalities in the State. This legislation has been carefully negotiated between members of the volunteer fire service and Albany lawmakers, with input from medical experts. It includes numerous compromises, including length-of-service requirements, a statute of repose and an opt-out clause. These compromises are intended to reduce the financial impact of the bill on local municipalities.

The writer is president of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY). For more information, visit www.fasny.com.