Health of firefighters

Firefighters work in urban, rural, forest, transportation, naval and mixed settings to:

• prevent and extinguish fires
• provide emergency care as first responders

Firefighters don't only face physical hazards on the job. They can also be exposed to toxic substances when responding to a fire.

In June 2022 the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified firefighting as a known human carcinogen:

• Between 2005 and 2016, 86% of occupational fatality claims for Canadian firefighters were linked to cancer.
• Firefighters have a 9% higher risk of cancer diagnosis, and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer than the general public.

January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month

Beginning in 2024, January will be known as "Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month" throughout Canada. Health Canada and key stakeholders will raise awareness on this topic through social media campaigns and targeted events.

Government of Canada action

In June 2023, Bill C-224, An Act to establish a National Framework for the prevention and treatment of cancers linked to firefighting, was unanimously passed by Parliament. It builds on commitments to create an action plan to protect people in Canada, including firefighters, from exposure to toxic flame retardants found in household products. It also expands on our action plan to protect firefighters from harmful chemicals released during household fires, announced in August 2021.

The Government of Canada is leading the development of the National Framework on Cancers Linked to Firefighting. This framework will raise awareness of cancers linked to firefighting and support improved access to cancer prevention and treatment. We're carrying out this work in consultation with:

• stakeholders in the firefighting community
• provincial, territorial and municipal governments
• Indigenous governing bodies
• health care professionals
• scientists

Reports

• Firefighter Cancer Research Priorities Workshop (Occupational Cancer Research Centre)
• Firefighter Occupational Exposure Reduction: Best Practices and Intervention Workshop (International Association of Fire Fighters)
• Towards a National Firefighter Cancer Framework: Building out the Awareness, Prevention, and Access to Care Puzzle (Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs)

Related links

• National Framework on Cancers linked to Firefighting
• Informing a national framework on cancers linked to firefighting: What we heard report
• Backgrounder: Helping to protect firefighters from harmful chemicals
• Canadians Association of Fire Chiefs
• International Association of Firefighters
• January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month
• Legislation to further protect the health of firefighters receives Royal Assent
• Government of Canada announces action plan to protect firefighters from harmful chemicals