The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has reported that Local 36 in Washington, DC secured an expansion of workers’ compensation coverage for fire fighters diagnosed with occupational cancers.
In December 2023, the District of Columbia City Council approved the addition of seven cancers to the list of conditions covered under the city’s workers’ compensation laws.
These include colon, colorectal, multiple myeloma, lymphoma, brain, non-Hodgkin’s, and throat cancers.
Coverage for kidney, thyroid, and bladder cancers is scheduled to take effect in 2028.
IAFF Local 36 President Dave Hoagland said: “Our fight for cancer and presumptive heart legislation was not just about laws; it was about recognizing the sacrifices made in the line of duty.”
The effort to expand presumptive coverage began in 2007 when Local 36 identified a growing number of cancer cases among fire fighters.
The Presumptive Disability Act was passed in 2012, initially covering leukemia, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and respiratory diseases, as well as heart and infectious diseases.
Local 36 member Brian Gray, a veteran with DC Fire & EMS, said: “We had a lot of untimely deaths due to health reasons, and I started to realize that many of these occupational diseases were considered personal illnesses.”
He explained that fire fighters were left to manage their own care, time off, and recovery without formal recognition of their illnesses as job-related.
Gray added that the Local identified chronic exposures to carcinogens, stress, and strenuous exertion as contributing factors to the illnesses fire fighters faced over a 25-year career.
The expanded workers’ compensation benefits mean that fire fighters diagnosed with covered cancers no longer need to prove their illness is work-related.
This change removes a significant barrier to accessing support.
For Local 36 member Steven Ship, who was diagnosed with cancer, the change offers reassurance: “To have that peace of mind to know that your family will be taken care of, is everything.”
Local 36 Treasurer Rob Heaney, a 23-year fire service veteran, was diagnosed with occupational cancer in 2023.
He shared his experience of being initially cleared in a routine check-up, only to later be diagnosed with cancer after further testing. Heaney passed away on January 22, 2025.
Local 36 President Hoagland said: “His loss is deeply felt by all who had the privilege of working alongside him.”
Despite the legislative progress, IAFF Local 36 states that more work is needed to protect fire fighters’ health.
Gray said: “Our Local made a conscious decision to be proactive in promoting our members.
“The fire service is made up of ‘silent professionals,’ but staying silent risks being forgotten and reactive to changes.
“The union’s job is to highlight the integral role our members play in the community.”
Local 36 member Frelimo Simba, a 33-year veteran who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2011, emphasized the need to continue pushing for protections: “We’ve come a long way, but there’s still more fight, and we’re not done yet.”
IAFF Local 36 in Washington, DC successfully advocated for an expansion of workers’ compensation coverage for fire fighters diagnosed with occupational cancers.
In December 2023, the District of Columbia City Council approved legislation adding seven new cancers to the list of covered conditions, with three more set to be included in 2028.
The campaign began in 2007 when Local 36 identified a rise in fire fighter cancer diagnoses.
The Presumptive Disability Act was initially passed in 2012, covering leukemia, breast cancer, prostate cancer, respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and infectious diseases.
The expanded coverage eliminates the burden on fire fighters to prove their cancer is job-related.
IAFF Local 36 members, including Brian Gray and Steven Ship, highlighted the importance of this change in ensuring financial security for affected fire fighters and their families.
Local 36 Treasurer Rob Heaney, diagnosed with occupational cancer in 2023, passed away in January 2025.
Local 36 leaders say advocacy efforts will continue to ensure fire fighters receive necessary protections.
