Utah Firefighter Cancer Initiative to launch nation-leading screening program

Utah will now be home to the most comprehensive firefighter cancer screening program in the nation, a milestone years in the making that takes aim at the largest danger firefighters face and will save lives through early detection.

The program was developed by the Utah Firefighter Cancer Initiative, a coalition that includes the Utah Fire and Rescue Academy, the Professional Firefighters of Utah, the Utah State Fire Chiefs Association, and the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, which is a partnership between the University of Utah and Weber State University. 

Utah lawmakers passed legislation funding the program (H.B. 65 Firefighter Cancer Amendments) in early March, and Gov. Spencer J. Cox signed the bill March 25. 

Bradley Wardle, chair of the Utah Firefighter Cancer Initiative and director of the Utah Fire and Rescue Academy, said the program’s impact will be immeasurable. 

“We know these screenings will save lives,” Wardle said. “We know this program will make a massive difference for firefighters, their families, and the communities they serve. And we are immensely grateful for the support from Utah lawmakers and Gov. Cox, who have made clear that protecting firefighters from cancer is a priority.” 

Cancer is the leading killer of firefighters. It causes roughly two-thirds of line-of-duty firefighter deaths, according to the International Association of Fire Fighters, while data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health indicate that firefighters are at 14% higher risk of dying from cancer than the general population. The threat may stem not only from inhaling carcinogens while combating fires but possibly also from so-called forever chemicals (polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS) that linger in firefighters’ gear. Anecdotally, most firefighters who have served for more than a few years know at least one colleague who died from cancer. 

The legislation enables the Utah Firefighter Cancer Initiative to take action commensurate with the crisis. It provides funding to screen approximately 500 firefighters annually, prioritizing those at greatest risk: firefighters who are 40 or older or who have served in Utah for at least seven years. The law also expands the list of cancers considered “presumptive” in firefighters — meaning, absent extenuating circumstances, the cancers are attributed to line-of-duty exposures — enabling those who are diagnosed to seek workers’ compensation. The list now totals 15 forms of cancer: bladder, brain, colorectal, esophageal, kidney, leukemias, lung, lymphomas, melanomas, mesotheliomas, oropharynx, ovarian, prostate, testicular, and thyroid.

The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Casey Snider (R-Paradise), who has served as a volunteer firefighter in Cache County alongside his full-time work operating a farm. Jack Tidrow, the president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Utah, said the push for a law like this began more than 20 years ago. 

“We have dreamed of this for a long time,” he said. “To see a law come to fruition that not only expands the list of presumptive cancers but provides for cancer screening on this scale is remarkable. This is truly a watershed moment for firefighters in this state.”

Added Clint Smith, president of the Utah Fire Chiefs Association and chief of the Draper City Fire Department: “Firefighters sacrifice so much for their neighbors and communities. They deserve to live long, healthy lives well into retirement. This program will ensure that more Utah firefighters get that opportunity.”  

The cancer screenings will be rigorous, including a whole-body MRI, blood testing, lung CT scan, liquid biopsy, dermatology examination, and several other steps. The initiative’s medical director, Kurt Hegmann, MD, said the scope of the program sets a new standard — one he is optimistic could serve as a model for other jurisdictions across the country. 

“We are eager to save lives of firefighters in Utah, which is something this program will certainly do,” said Dr. Hegmann, who is also the director of the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health and a practicing occupational medicine physician. “We are also hopeful that the success of our effort will have spillover effects beyond Utah. We believe this program can actually have a significant positive impact on firefighters nationwide.”