**By Kylie Mohr**
It took nearly three years to secure presumptive workers’ compensation coverage for various cancers that federal firefighters might develop due to their hazardous on-the-job exposures. Recently, after the Labor Department expanded this coverage to include conditions primarily affecting women, concerns arose among firefighters about the future of these gains. This anxiety was heightened when the Trump administration removed details about the cancer coverage expansion for women and transgender firefighters from a federal webpage and avoided questions regarding the continuation of the policy shift that occurred during the Biden administration’s final days.
Pete Dutchick, a federal firefighter and volunteer with the advocacy group Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, emphasized the importance of maintaining this coverage for those dedicated to protecting public safety: “It’s really important to continue to focus on ensuring that those who devote their lives to protecting the public and communities continue to receive coverage through the special claims unit.”
The Labor Department’s special claims unit, created in 2022, processes all federal firefighter claims, allowing for a more efficient pathway for those with designated conditions. Celebrations erupted among wildland firefighters and their advocates when it was announced that the federal government would expedite workers’ compensation coverage for cancers related to their line of work, acknowledging that the hazards faced extend well beyond extinguishing flames.
The cancers that were initially recognized for expedited claims included esophageal, colorectal, prostate, testicular, kidney, bladder, brain, lung, thyroid, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia, mesothelioma, and melanoma. However, disappointment soon set in when it became apparent that breast, ovarian, cervical, and uterine cancers were not included, affecting over 2,700 individuals—approximately 16% of the more than 17,000 federal wildland firefighters employed by the Forest Service and the Interior Department.
Dutchick expressed his frustration, stating, “At first glance, we were ecstatic. And then we’re like, ‘Well, where are the female cancers?’” He added that as a father to an 8-year-old daughter, he wants her to have equal health protections should she choose a career in public service.
Towards the end of the Biden administration, officials acted to rectify the exclusion by adding these cancers to the list just before Donald Trump took office. Christopher Godfrey, the former director of the workers’ compensation office, highlighted the significance of this change: “This policy change acknowledges the unique occupational hazards faced by women firefighters and ensures they receive the care and support they deserve.”
However, shortly after the change was made, the press release detailing the cancer coverage expansion was removed from the Labor Department’s website. A spokesperson from the workers’ compensation office was unable to provide updates regarding claims for the newly covered cancers. Formalizing this policy change could take months, requiring Congressional support.
Kaleena Lynde, a woman firefighter diagnosed with small cell ovarian cancer at age 22 during her third season with the Shasta Lake Hotshots, reflected on her experience. After undergoing multiple surgeries and chemotherapy, she is now cancer-free, but has concerns about the link between her illnesses and her work as a firefighter. Recently, she learned about the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer, prompting her to question if her cancers were related to her profession.
In an effort to address the previous exclusion, over 15 advocacy groups for wildland firefighters sent a letter in September to then-acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, suggesting the inclusion of presumptive coverage for female-specific cancers, citing examples from countries like Australia.
In April 2022, the Labor Department implemented changes that simplified requirements for cancer-related claims, which were later formalized in December when the National Defense Authorization Act was signed into law. To qualify, firefighters must have worked for at least five years and been diagnosed within ten years of their last exposure. While those with unlisted cancers may still file claims, they do not benefit from the same expedited process.
As of September 2024, the workers’ compensation office reported receiving 91 claims related to the qualifying cancers and heart and lung conditions. Among them, 89 were adjudicated through the special claims process, with 84 (or 94%) being accepted—an improvement over the previous acceptance rate of merely 29% for occupational disease claims.
Rachel Granberg, a wildland firefighter in Washington state, emphasized the significance of streamlined processing, stating, “It really gives people more bandwidth to worry about how they’re going to manage their life after a cancer diagnosis, rather than just fighting for basic health care.” Many firefighters often find themselves relying on crowdfunding for financial assistance following a cancer diagnosis.
George Broyles, a retired firefighter and Forest Service researcher, argued that health risks should not be perceived as inevitable parts of the job. “Hazard pay is not going to stop cancer,” he noted, advocating for more transparency about cancer risks and better education for young recruits on protective measures.
The Labor Department’s decision to expand presumptive coverage for female reproductive cancers was unexpected. Initially, the agency had deemed such a change unnecessary but later reversed this stance after consulting the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and experts in firefighter health.
This situation highlights the lack of research on women’s health within the firefighting profession, with studies often neglecting the cancer risks faced by female firefighters. Despite this, ample research has confirmed the toxic exposures firefighters face, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified firefighting as a cancer-causing occupation in 2022.
While new studies have shown links between certain chemicals, like PFAS, and cancer, it remains uncertain whether the Trump administration will retract the newly-implemented coverage, leaving federal firefighters anxious about securing necessary care in the face of workplace exposures.
This article was produced by KFF Health News, a national newsroom dedicated to producing in-depth journalism regarding health issues as part of its effort as a key operating program at KFF—an independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.
