Michelle Marchante
Miami Herald
(TNS)
A new health and wellness center for firefighters has opened as part of Miami Fire Rescue’s efforts to curb, detect and treat cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder and other medical conditions that adversely impact firefighters.
Cancer is a leading cause of death among firefighters, with fire crews more at risk for certain types of cancers compared to the general population due to exposure to cancer-causing chemicals. In 2022, 75% of the firefighters whose names were added to the National Fallen Firefighters monument died from cancer, said Miami Fire Rescue Chief Joseph Zahralban during a Thursday news conference outside the new center, 1502 NW Fourth St., next to loanDepot park, the home of the Miami Marlins.
“We need to control our own destiny,” Zahralban told the Miami Herald after the conference, noting that the new center, created in partnership with Miami-Dade’s public hospital system Jackson Health, will help the department “work toward identifying early signs of cancer, heart disease, stroke and even emotional illnesses like post-traumatic stress disorder.”
“We know that early recognition is the key to helping them [firefighters] to live a long and healthy life,” he said.
Firefighters at higher risk for cancer
Firefighters are often exposed to known and suspected cancer-causing substances, including liquids, gases, fumes and other chemicals and toxins while on the job. Many buildings contain synthetic and plastic materials, which create more smoke than natural materials, according to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The man-made materials often release cancer-causing agents when they burn.
And the foam firefighters use to extinguish fires emits chemical compounds known as PFAS. Studies have shown that high levels of exposure to certain PFAS can lead to increased risk of kidney or testicular cancer, changes in liver enzymes and increased cholesterol levels, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Fire crews are also at risk for other health conditions, including heart disease, lung disease and stroke. And like other first responders, firefighters can experience trauma from the tragedies they respond to, such as 9/11, the Haiti Earthquake of 2010 and the Surfside condo collapse in 2021.
Most recently, crews responded this week to a murder-suicide involving a 3-year-old boy in Coconut Grove.
“Despite all of their training and all of their education, our firefighters could do nothing to save this child. These emergency calls have life-lasting effects on our firefighters,” said Zahralban. “They become memories — nightmares. They haunt you forever…”
Center latest in health initiative
At the center, firefighters will have access to peer counselors and clinicians. Staff will provide physicals and a variety of services including X-rays, ultrasounds, blood work, stress tests and cardiac exams to the more than 800 firefighters of Miami Fire Rescue. Eventually, the center will expand its services to retired firefighters and the families of fire service members, said Dr. Paul Adams, the medical director for Miami Fire Rescue and the new health and wellness center.
The center is the latest initiative stemming from Miami Fire Rescue’s comprehensive cancer prevention program, an effort the department created several years ago to identify and eliminate risk factors and hazards that can affect the health and safety of fire crews.
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Posted: Mar 5, 2023
The Jamestown Fire Department has applied for federal grants totaling $1.6 million to purchase a ladder truck and 30 self-contained breathing apparatuses, jamestownpress.com reported.
The more expensive request is $1.3 million to replace the 2001 ladder truck, which meets the requirements for replacement because it is more than 20 years old, the report said. The cost of trucks, a fire official said, have “skyrocketed” since the coronavirus pandemic, with vehicle prices doubling.
The main improvement of the proposed truck compared to the 2001 model is the newer one would feature a fire pump, foam system and water tank, the report said. The current truck does not carry water or foam.
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Posted: Mar 5, 2023
The Ironwood City Commission approved the purchase of a new Pierce pumper fire engine at its meeting Monday, yourdailyglobe.com reported.
The price tag is $874,920, and now the city needs to find a way to pay for it, the report said. Delivery of the yet unbuilt truck is expected in three years, and the city has 30 months to come up with the first payment, said a city official.
Delivery will be in 34 to 36 months, with the final payment due on delivery, according to the report.
In a letter to the commission, the city official said funding will come from multiple sources, including general fund dollars, USDA loans and grants, and ARPA funds, the report said.
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