Cancer presumption laws called into question

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Cancer presumption laws called into question

No link between firefighting and cancer, study says

There is no substantial scientific evidence that firefighters suffer higher cancer rates than the general population, according to a report from the Washington-based National League of Cities (NLC). The NLC study, "Assessing State Firefighter Cancer Presumption Laws And Current Firefighter Cancer Research," calls into question the "presumption laws" passed in 24 states that allow firefighters with cancer to collect workers' compensation without proving that they contracted the disease as a result of their job.

Of the thousands of cancer studies conducted between 1995 and 2008, only 17 looked at firefighting as a risk factor in contracting cancer, and no causal relationship has been found, according to the NLC study. Still, in states with presumption laws, cancer is treated as a work-related illness, a policy that should be reevaluated, NLC Executive Director Donald Borut said in a statement. "While we depend on firefighters for the critical role they play in the safety of our cities and towns, we must evaluate this issue objectively and scientifically," Borut said. "This study demonstrates the need for more high-level research into cancer and firefighters. States should not pass laws requiring cities to take on difficult financial burdens with no clear scientific connection between illness and occupation."

Download the "Assessing State Firefighter Cancer Presumption Laws And Current Firefighter Cancer Research" study from NLC's Web site. Link
Source: americancityandcounty.com - Link

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States. CDF - CAL FIRE Firefighters answer the call more than 300,000 times a year. CAL FIRE Firefighters make up the fire department for 30 of our 58 counties in California and more than 100 local communities. We serve as the incident command during many of California’s most serious disasters. CAL FIRE Firefighters respond to many various types and forms of calls ranging from structural fires, to auto accidents, to earthquakes, to floods, to the spilling of hazardous materials, to every conceivable disaster; CAL FIRE answer's the calls. CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States . CAL FIRE firefighters protect 33 million acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA). We have over 4,000 members within CAL FIRE and CAL FIRE is associated with the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Tuesday, April 21, 2009