Fire Service & Cancer

Members of the Fire Service community have access to specific benefits, programs, and resources that may be useful after a cancer diagnosis. It is valuable to access the benefits available to you and to understand how they may work with other benefits that you have. For example, you may have access to department-sponsored health insurance, wellness and screening programs, disability benefits, retirement benefits, and more.

You may be new to the job, been on the job for years, thinking about retirement, or already a retiree – there is information here for you.

This page shares information on topics related to the Fire Service, resources specific to the Fire Service, and other helpful resources.

Many of our materials and resources are also available in Spanish.

Fire Service Personnel Survey

We want to hear from you! Complete this survey to share more information on how Triage Cancer can serve the Fire Service community.

Triage Cancer Materials & Resources

Triage Cancer educational materials and resources are available to support you, your family, and members of your department coping with cancer.

  • Practical Guide to Cancer Rights: Navigating Employment, Insurance, & Finances
  • Practical Guide to Cancer Rights For Caregivers
  • Cancer Finances: A Toolkit for Navigating Finances After Cancer: This interactive toolkit is designed to help guide you to the information most relevant to you. Whether you are newly diagnosed or many years past active treatment, this site can help. Cancer Finances covers a number of topics that may be helpful to you related to managing finances.
  • We also host a Resources by Location page, where you can find state-specific information and resources.
  • Listen to our How to Triage Health podcast where our team talks through the legal and practical issues that impact people navigating a chronic or serious medical diagnosis.
  • Our Animated Videos provide a unique, brief way to learn legal and practical information about health insurance, managing medical bills, cancer and work, clinical trials, estate planning and medical decision making, and much more
  • Subscribe to our Blog to stay in touch with Triage Cancer, featuring breaking news in the cancer community, partner highlights, and more.
  • Stay informed with our monthly newsletter, featuring upcoming events and the latest free resources available to your department.

 

Need Help Understanding Health Insurance or Choosing the Right Plan?

 

Get Help Accessing Cancer Care

 

Want to Know How Your Retirement Benefits Can Work For You?

 

Additional Topics:

Events

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Join the free Triage Cancer Conference on October 18, 2025. Patients, caregivers, advocates, and health care professionals can gain vital tools, support, and up to 6.5 CE credits. Register by October 1 to receive free materials and a gift bag.

Triage Cancer Webinars

Triage Cancer hosts FREE monthly webinars that cover a variety of legal and practical topics, such as health and disability insurance, navigating health care, managing finances, and more. You can register for these upcoming webinars:

Missed one of our webinars? You can watch the recordings on our Past Webinars page:

Triagecancer.org/Past-Webinars. Here are some recent webinars:

Triage Cancer Conferences

Triage Cancer® offers a series of FREE educational conferences on health care-related topics including navigating finances, health and disability insurance, employment rights, advocacy, and more. Conferences are open to everyone. This event covers key information needed to help navigate practical issues, minimize the financial burden of a cancer diagnosis, and reduce stress. Join us for a day of FREE education, games, prizes, and more!

Register: TriageCancer.org/Conferences.

 

Event Request Form

Looking to share this information with your community? We provide speakers for community events. Request a speaker to learn more.

One-on-one Help

Triage Cancer Legal & Financial Navigation Program

Triage Cancer has a free Legal & Financial Navigation Program that provides one-on-one assistance on a variety of topics, including health insurance, to empower you to confidently take next steps.

Other Resources by Topic

Fire Service Professional Associations

  • U.S. Fire Administration: The National Fire Department Registry has a list of the registered U.S. fire departments that includes brief demographic information. Learn more about local departments.
  • International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF): A large labor union and professional association that advocates for the rights, safety, and advancements of fire and emergency medical workers across North America
  • International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) A global organization representing fire service leadership and experts in various fields of emergency response and public safety.
  • National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC): The leading nonprofit membership association dedicated to representing the interests of volunteer firefighters, EMS, and rescue personnel at the national level.
  • Women in Fire:  Promotes female leadership and participation within the fire and emergency services. They have created a variety of educational resources relevant to all fire service personnel.

Fire Service Safety Organizations

Fire Service Cancer Advocacy Organizations

  • Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN)  delivers valuable post-diagnosis resources followed by unique badge to badge, one-on-one mentorship from fire service mentors who have first-hand knowledge about battling cancer.
  • Firefighter Cancer Foundation provides international outreach, support, and resource assistance programs for firefighters and family members that are stricken by cancer.  The Foundation is creating state of the art programs for cancer education, awareness, research and prevention to ensure the quality of life and retirement of fire fighters around the world.
  • Firefighter Cancer Initiative works to understand how cancer impacts firefighters and find methods for cancer risk reduction. Their multidisciplinary team of scientists, healthcare practitioners, and occupational health and safety experts uses community-engaged approaches to ensure they put firefighter voices and experiences first.
  • Boston Fire Cancer Foundation raises money to support members of the Boston Fire Department who are diagnosed with occupational cancer. They provide support to firefighters and their families through mentorships, financial supports, transportation, meal plans, and more.
  • FireK FiveK raises money to support the financial needs of first responders and their families as they battel cancer. They also provide free cancer screening for all firefighters and connect firefighters with resources to mitigate or minimize exposure risks.
  • North Carolina Firefighter Cancer Benefit Program helps bridge the financial gaps that may follow a cancer diagnosis, so that firefighters in North Carolina can focus on recovery.
  • Florida Firefighters Safety and Health Collaborative focuses on Firefighter Safety & Health by providing education, training, and sharing of best practices to minimize risks and exposure to Florida Firefighters. It is a FREE Program to Fire Departments looking to enhance and maintain an effective Safety Committee and/or Safety Program.
  • Last Call Foundation is committed to identifying and addressing the challenges firefighters face on the job to enhance firefighters’ ability to safely and effectively fight fires. Their work includes advocacy efforts to speak up for firefighters facing cancer.
  • Georgia Firefighters' Cancer Benefit Program  is designed to help bridge financial gaps firefighters encounter following a diagnosis of cancer. It helps with extra expense items such as deductibles, co-pays and out of network treatments or to offset loss of income.
  • First Responder Center for Excellence promotes quality educational awareness and research to reduce physical and psychological health and wellness issues for first responders.
  • Missouri Fire Fighters Critical Illness Pool provides compensation benefits for various types of cancer as well as mental health resources. View more of their resources.
  • Shield 23 Foundation is a non-profit organization that raises funds for and gifts funds to firefighters battling cancer and the families that stand beside them. They provide financial assistance, peer support, and resources for the fire community.
  • San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation works to identify the causes that make cancer more prevalent in firefighters, preventing cancer through early detection, supporting changes to improve firefighter health, and providing cutting-edge care for active and retired SFFD members and their families.
  • The Phoenix Project 780 actively encourages and helps fire departments, along with their firefighters, establish safer practices to reduce harmful exposures that can lead to a cancer diagnosis by raising awareness.

Fire Service Benefits

  • International Association of Fire Fighters Financial Corporation (IAFF-FC) offers supplemental insurance to IAFF members and their immediate family members to cover cancer and critical illness.
  • IAFF has created resources to help firefighters understand their pension systems and to assist when choosing benefits.
  • September 11th Victim Compensation Fund provides compensation to individuals (or a personal representative of a deceased individual) who were present at one of the three crash sites during the following timeframes, and who have since been diagnosed with a 9/11-related physical illness.

Mental Health

Fire Service Personnel are often exposed to difficult and stressful work situations that can result in mental health challenges, including post-traumatic stress. There are many organizations that provide resources to Firefighters and their families to navigate the mental load.

  • Save a Warrior offers suicide prevention retreat services for military personnel and first responders.
  • 988 Lifeline is a national crisis lifeline for those in distress.
  • A fire department’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can provide resources for fire service personnel and family members. EAP is a confidential and free voluntary service that provides support for a wide range of personal and work-related issues, including access to counseling services for stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns.

For more Triage Cancer resources:

Fire Service Financial Assistance Resources

There are many organizations that provide financial assistance and other support programs for fire service personnel and their families. Here are a few examples:

  • Foundation 58  provides financial support to eligible first responders who are actively undergoing treatment for cancer.
  • Operation First Response offers a Family Assistance Program for First Responder families, that provides financial help for basic needs such as groceries, clothing, mortgage, rent, utilities, and vehicle payments.
  • North Carolina Firefighter Cancer Benefit Program helps bridge the financial gaps that may follow a cancer diagnosis, so that firefighters in North Carolina can focus on recovery.
  • Shield 23 Foundation is a non-profit organization that raises funds for and gifts funds to firefighters battling cancer and the families that stand beside them. They provide financial assistance, peer support, and resources for the fire community.
  • Georgia Firefighters' Cancer Benefit Program  is designed to help bridge financial gaps firefighters encounter following a diagnosis of cancer. It helps with extra expense items such as deductibles, co-pays and out of network treatments or to offset loss of income.

For more financial assistance resources: TriageCancer.org/Cancer-Finances-Financial-Assistance.

Fire Service & Cancer Risks

Individuals who have served in Fire Service may have been exposed to certain substances that increase their future risk of cancer. If you have served in the Fire Service talk with your doctor about your possible exposure and whether increased cancer screenings are important for you. You may also have legal rights to certain health care, disability compensation, and other benefits.

  • Access the Science
    • Science to the Station works to bridge the communication gaps between the research scientists and first responders when it comes to understanding health and wellness. Their resources include a research tool to find relevant science.
    • Women in Fire provides cancer reports that include cancer type specific information as it impacts the fire service community.
    • IAFF Continues to provide information and resources on occupational hazards associated with fire service.
    • The American Cancer Society has many resources that detail cancer risks for a variety of communities, including an article on Firefighter Cancer Risk

 

 

Presumptive Disability Laws

The IAFF presumptive disability coverage database provides up-to-date information by state and province. Presumptive disability laws for firefighters establish a legal assumption that certain health conditions, such heart disease, raspatory diseases, PTSD, and specific cancers, are a result of their work exposures. Unlike typical workers’ compensation claims, presumptive laws shift the burden of proof onto the employer to disprove their medical condition is connected to their work. These state presumptive disability laws vary in their eligibility requirements, conditions they cover, as well as the eligibility window.

The National Defense Authorization Act Section 5305 titled “Fairness for Federal Firefighters,” identifies certain conditions will be “presumed” to be work-related. Learn more about the National Defense Authorization Act and Cancer.

Public Safety Officers Benefits (PSOB) Act

Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA): Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program provides death and education benefits to survivors of fallen law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders, and disability benefits to officers catastrophically injured in the line of duty. Learn more about application instructions and file an application for benefits.

International Association of Fire Fighters: IAFF has a variety of information regarding PSOB, including current legislation, contact information, and a FAQ sheet.

Fire Service Support Resources

  • National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF):This organization supports the families of fallen firefighters and works to prevent line-of-duty deaths and injuries through advocacy and education programs. It offers resources for mental health, well-being, and support groups like peer-to-peer and facilitated support groups for families.

Legal Assistance Resources for Firefighters

Fire Service Community Publications

  • Firefighter Nation’s mission is to ignite firefighter wellness through valuable content covering all aspects of firefighter life, including mental and physical health, personal and career development, and department recruitment and retention. 
  • Fire Engineering provides cutting-edge training, education, and management insights vital to the fire and emergency service, from firefighters and EMTs to chiefs.
  • International Association of Fire Fighters Magazine shares relevant news and education on the fire service including fire service personnel health and wellness.
  • Firehouse Magazine shares the latest fire service news and training through podcasts, webinars, and their magazine.
  • Crackyl covers everything from health and wellness to financial security and fitness, and delivers resources that help firefighters heal, improve, and thrive.

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