As concerns over the health of firefighters increase, new measures are being taken throughout the nation to help them.

Recently in Albany, a conference on how firefighters could prevent getting illnesses welcomed dozens of onlookers. Now, Intertek in Cortland County has issued its first cleanliness certification standard for the gears of firefighters.

Retired Ithaca firefighter Mahlon Irish said cleanliness is integral to lowering the risk of developing cancer. He wishes he had known sooner, so perhaps he could have escaped the disease.

“It's too late for me. I've got the cancer; there is nothing I can do with it. I have to live with it as long as I can, but other folks who are coming into this right now or have only been in it a few years, it is not too late for them,” said Irish.

Irish said firefighter illness prevention training will be offered in Cortland County next month.