By BRIAN FERRY
Firefighters place their lives in harm's way on a regular basis.
They face fire, heat, explosions and structures that are falling apart.
Some of the dangers are harder to see.
Because firefighters are exposed to carcinogens on the job, bills in both houses of the Pennsylvania legislature would make cancer a presumptive illness among firefighters.
Many items release toxic and carcinogenic fumes when burned.
Tire fires, dumpster fires and car fires are some of the worst, according to City of Warren Fire Department Lt. Andrew Moore.
Common materials can produce deadly toxins. "When wool burns, it releases hydrogen cyanide," Moore said.
Firefighters today are equipped with masks that are checked for proper fit and provide a self-contained atmosphere, preventing most exposure to chemicals. In the past that was not true, and those who fought fires from the 1950s through the 1980s are showing many health problems related to their work, according to Moore. "Twenty to thirty years later, we're seeing the effects these chemicals had."
The Senate bill, sponsored by Sen. David Argall (R-29), was approved last Thursday by the Labor and Industry Committee. The bill next goes before the full Senate. A nearly identical bill has been introduced in the House by Rep. Frank Farry (R-142). That bill has been sent to the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.
"As many brave men and women, both volunteers and professionals, throughout our state risk their lives for public safety and protection, it is important to protect firefighters who contract cancer while in the line of duty," Argall said.
A presumptive cancer bill was vetoed by then-Gov. Ed Rendell last year. That bill passed the House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support. Only a handful of legislators voted against the measure.
"We are all for the cancer presumption bill," Moore said. "It's definitely a good bill."
The bills would not automatically provide coverage for firefighters with cancer, according to Moore. High-risk behaviors like smoking and using smokeless tobacco would limit the presumptions, as would the presence of cancer during pre-employment physical examinations.
"It doesn't give a blanket protection to everybody," he said. "It streamlines the process so people can have the treatment they need."Emergency Preparedness Committee.
"As many brave men and women, both volunteers and professionals, throughout our state risk their lives for public safety and protection, it is important to protect firefighters who contract cancer while in the line of duty," Argall said.
A presumptive cancer bill was vetoed by then-Gov. Ed Rendell last year. That bill passed the House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support. Only a handful of legislators voted against the measure.
"We are all for the cancer presumption bill," Moore said. "It's definitely a good bill."
The bills would not automatically provide coverage for firefighters with cancer, according to Moore. High-risk behaviors like smoking and using smokeless tobacco would limit the presumptions, as would the presence of cancer during pre-employment physical examinations.
"It doesn't give a blanket protection to everybody," he said. "It streamlines the process so people can have the treatment they need."