Firefighters have been put at an even greater risk for cancer since the addition of more modern, synthetic materials to homes and structures.
St. Albans Fire Chief Lance Carney said as a result, there has been a major push through the fire service to improve firefighters' equipment; however, it has not necessarily been in the budget to do so.
The Prevent Cancer Foundation recently funded a grant for the St. Albans Fire Department to purchase new fire hoods for each firefighter in the department.
"The firefighter cancer rate is just growing," Carney said. "Getting our guys in clean gear, the hoods, is a small first step."
A firefighting hood is made of a special, fire-resistant fabric that goes under the helmet and the top of the coat. It protects the neck, ears, head and face.
Carney says that the hood is usually the most contaminated part of the equipment because it absorbs smoke in the air. Firemen often pull it down around their neck after fighting a fire, inhaling and absorbing the harmful carcinogens.
New synthetic materials in furniture, especially in upholstery, have increased the amount of carcinogens firefighters come into contact with, increasing their chances of developing cancer, Carney explained.
The St. Albans Fire Department applied for the grant in early March and found out only eight days later that they would receive it. The department used the grant to purchase 25 new fire hoods. Now, each firefighter has two hoods.
Carney says the purpose of having two hoods is to ensure each hood is cleaned before another use. This limits a firefighters contact with the harmful chemicals absorbed in the hood until it's washed.
The hoods are typically replaced every five to six years. The department hopes to purchase a second set of gear for each firefighter in the future, but this will cost about $3,000 per person and will be a strain on the budget.
Reach Jennifer Gardner at jennifer.gardner@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5102 or follow @jennc_gardner on Twitter.