ROCHESTER, N.Y. — In the world of firefighting, the men and women on the front lines are faced with a unique set of challenges, especially concerning their health and safety. Firehouses across the state are taking proactive measures to safeguard those who serve, acknowledging the heightened risks faced by firefighters in their line of duty.

Facing the intense heat and toxic smoke of fires, firefighters encounter a 9% higher risk of cancer diagnosis and a 14% higher risk of cancer-related mortality compared to the general U.S. population, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

"Everything we face is carcinogen-full," said Brian Gebo, battalion chief of Ridge Road Fire District. "Everything's made out of plastic foams, you know, synthetic material. So from the flooring, what we sit on, they burn toxic gases and our guys are exposed to that stuff."

Brian McQueen, a veteran with 37 years of service at the Whitesboro Volunteer Fire Department.

"December 24, 2013, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma, and boy, did that wake me up a little bit because never did I realize that the job I was doing giving back to my community could be killing me," said McQueen.

Firefighters like Gebo stress the importance of protective measures, including clean air and specialized gear, to mitigate exposure to harmful chemicals. 

"So this is where we'd fill our air tanks, as we'll call them, or cylinders," said Gebo. "That's what the actual firefighters are breathing off of to make sure that the air is clean. The mask to make sure he won't breathe in the bad stuff. He has a microphone so we can hear him, with fresh good air."

Decontamination protocols have been implemented nationwide to reduce risks after responding to calls, ensuring that firefighters are shielded from carcinogens on the job. The decontamination process, which involves washing gear thoroughly after each call, has become a critical component of firefighting practices to prevent the long-term health effects associated with exposure to carcinogens.

"This is the North Greece training facility," Gebo said. "This is some of the soot and the byproducts of combustion [that get] onto us or our gear. At this point, we made sure the fire was out. We would then start the decontamination process, taking our gear to get washed and then ready for the next call."

"We used to have dirty faces and gear, that's all changing now," said McQueen.

Despite the daily health dangers, firefighters express their commitment to the job, emphasizing the protection provided by advanced gear. Rob Pelusio, a firefighter at Ridge Road Fire District, said, the importance of proper gear usage in safeguarding against health risks.

"As long as my skin isn't exposed, I am protected by all this gear," Peluso said.

Brian McQueen is now cancer-free and has been for some time. He continues the use of traditional and modern methods to keep firefighting gear clean and safe.