Council orders executive-session analysis of firefighter health as members cite cancer concerns

Councilmember Mary Waters urged the council to take immediate action after hearing that the department has recently experienced firefighter deaths and active cancer treatments among members. Waters said the city should ensure medical coverage and benefits for firefighters who develop job-related cancer and proposed a local review in addition to supporting state cancer-presumption laws.

Commissioner Chuck Sims said the department agrees the issue is serious and that screenings have been expanded. He said DFD increased screening frequency (from annual to twice a year, with a goal of quarterly) and emphasized proactive gear-cleaning protocols and two sets of gear to limit carcinogen exposure. Sims also said national case studies and research on cancer presumption can be provided to the council.

Councilmember Waters moved to place a broad medical analysis of firefighters' health and wellness into executive session for further study; the motion was added to the closing resolution by unanimous 'no objection.' Sims and staff committed to sending the council the department’s screening practices, case studies and summary of how determinations under worker-presumption rules are made, including the role of oncologist review.

What the council asked for: a written dossier from the department outlining screening frequency and results (as allowed by privacy rules), existing protocols for presumption claims, recent case counts and proposed policy options the council can consider to better protect members and families. The department noted it will provide relevant national studies, state presumption case examples and internal data to inform council deliberations.

Next procedural step: the executive-session health-and-wellness analysis will be coordinated between DFD, the city HR and legal staff; scope and timing will be set as part of the closing-resolution and executive-session scheduling process.