Everyone knows that firefighting is a dangerous job — jumping into burning buildings is not for the faint of heart. And because of the inherent risks and the important role they play for the public, it’s not surprising that firefighters are commonly viewed as heroes.
But not only do firefighters face potential death or injury in the line of duty — from the fires themselves, along with structural collapses, diesel exhaust, or even traffic collisions — they also face a hidden, longer-term hazard: occupational cancer, which now claims the lives of more firefighters than any other cause.
