ICYMI: Governor Spanberger Highlights New Funding for Firefighter Cancer Screenings

RICHMOND, VA - Governor Abigail Spanberger highlighted a new grant program - funded through an amendment the Governor proposed to the Commonwealth's biennial budget - which invests $2 million each year to support localities and departments in providing cancer screenings for career firefighters. The budget amendment allows for $350 per eligible screening for career firefighters.

Cancer is the leading cause of death in the fire service. While serving in Congress, Governor Spanberger led bipartisan legislation to provide Veteran military firefighters with their earned healthcare benefits and disability compensation by creating the presumption that Veteran military firefighters who become disabled by serious diseases - including certain cancers - contracted their illness from their military service. Firefighters face an increased risk of cancer due to exposure to carcinogenic fumes, chemicals, and other contaminants.

Read below for coverage of Governor Spanberger's efforts to help protect Virginia firefighters:

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ABC13 [Roanoke]: Virginia invests $2 million dedicated to firefighter cancer screenings

A new state grant program aims to help protect Virginia firefighters from one of the deadliest risks they face on the job: cancer.

Virginia is investing $2 million as part of the two-year state budget to help career fire departments pay for specialized cancer screenings, giving firefighters access to early detection that many departments say has been financially out of reach.

"This program will save lives," said William Boger, district vice president and communications director for the Virginia Professional Firefighters.

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Governor Abigail Spanberger said expanding access to early detection is critical.

"Early detection is so essential to saving lives, and that is something that I want to ensure is available to firefighters across Virginia," Spanberger said. "We know they take risks, and we as a Commonwealth want to help mitigate some of the risks that come, particularly as it relates to their cancer risk."

For firefighters, the issue is deeply personal. Many of our local departments, including LFD, have lost firefighters to cancer.

"That's what makes it so personal for us," Collins said. "They've shown us a completely different type of courage. And we just owe it to every firefighter to make sure that we do all we can to catch these diseases early."

FireRescue1: Va. launches $2M firefighter cancer screening grant program

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports that firefighters are 9% more likely to develop cancer and 14% more likely to die from it than the general public. Repeated exposure to smoke, toxic chemicals and contaminants on firefighting gear contributes to the increased risk.

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The grant program will help departments pay for specialized cancer screenings, which typically cost $300 to $400 per firefighter.

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Currently, only career fire departments are eligible for the grants. Spanberger said she hopes to expand the program to include volunteer departments eventually.

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