WRAL Investigates: Good news for NC firefighters who've spent years battling increasing cancer rates

A new victory for local firefighters who continue to fight the No. 1 killer of their colleagues: Cancer.

For more than four years, WRAL Investigates has highlighted alarmingly high cancer rates among firefighters, as well as their fight to get those cancers recognized as dangers of the job to receive extra benefits.

"We’ve proactively done all the things that we could think of," said Raleigh Battalion Chief Keith Wilder.

Wilder oversees health and safety compliance that meant focusing on harmful toxins that collect on turnout gear when fighting fires, intensive cleaning and even newly-issued travel bags to keep equipment sealed.

"Firefighters think about cancer every single day," said Scott Mullins, President of the Professional Firefighters and Paramedics of North Carolina.

Studies have shown for years that firefighters are exposed to several known cancer-causing toxins while on the job – whether it’s what’s burning or the chemicals they use to suppress the flames. Firefighters’ latest worry is what they wear for protection. Cancer-causing PFAS or forever chemicals are used to make their gear water repellent.

"We’re putting on this gear that’s supposed to protect us and it’s the gear that’s killing us," Mullins said.

Studies are underway to confirm that. North Carolina State University is working on PFAS gear alternatives. This week, industrial conglomerate 3M announced it plans to phase out use of so-called "forever chemicals" by 2025.

Wilder said 3M’s announcement is good news.

"What we’re seeing with that type of reaction or that type of announcement is a manufacturer who’s listening to those who wear of the gear and is looking at the health science of what’s happening to firefighters," Wilder said.

Following WRAL Investigates’ series of stories, North Carolina lawmakers approved a pilot program to provide more benefits to firefighters diagnosed with certain types of cancers. Wilder hopes that program will become permanent. He also hopes his department will soon start offering annual health scans for early detection, another step to better protect the protectors.

"It’s the right thing to do to do whatever we have to do to prevent them from going through that," Wilder said.