Those who fight fires are in a different fight now, and it has to do with their health. All the stuff that burns in the buildings they respond to is causing cancer.
When we call 911, firefighters are among the first to respond. Even though they get suited up, they are still exposed to all kinds of hazardous burning materials.
Now, Cleveland Fire Captain Tim Corcoran wants the Ohio legislature to come to their aide.
“A lot of it has to do with newer building materials — plastics, polymers. Back in the day it was cotton and wood. The environments that we’re in are just a toxic mess for lack of a better word,” Corcoran said.
The Ohio Senate has passed the SB 27 by a 32-to-1 margin, but the House has not dealt with it yet.
SB 17’s short title is “Firefighter-cancer-presumed to have incurred while on duty-workers’ comp/pension fund,” according to legislature.ohio.gov. It is a bill to amend parts of the Revised Code to provide that a firefighter disabled as a result of specified types of cancer is presumed for purposes of the laws governing workers’ compensation and the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund to have incurred the cancer while performing official duties as a firefighter.
In the meantime, fighters are getting sick.