Firefighters applaud expanded cancer coverage

Gavin Jacklyn is a veteran Brantford firefighter who has seen colleagues locally and across the province succumb to cancer.

Firefighters die of cancer at a rate of up to four times higher than the general population, said Jacklyn, who is chair of the Ontario Professional Firefighters Association’s occupational disease committee.

On average, 50 to 60 firefighters die of cancer each year in Canada and half of those are from Ontario, Jacklyn said.

“We’ve had a number of people die in the line of duty including some from the Brantford Fire Department,” Jacklyn said. “Last year we had two from the department – ​​Robert Ruttan, a retired deputy chief, and Gary Stockdale, a retired platoon chief.

“Their names will be added to the (International Firefighters Association) fallen Firefighter Memorial Wall in September.”

The wall is in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Jacklyn is planning to attend the ceremony.

A Brantford firefighter for 20 years, Jacklyn is applauding a provincial government’s decision to add thyroid and pancreatic cancer to the list of presumptive cancers.

The decision means it will be assumed that any firefighter diagnosed with either cancer became afflicted as a result of firefighting. It also means firefighters and their families will get the compensation and support they need from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board faster and easier.

The change was announced earlier this month by Monte McNaughton, the province’s Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, Solicitor General Michael Kerzner and Greg Horton, president of the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association.

The expanded coverage for claims is retroactive to Jan. 1, 1960. It applies to full-time, volunteer, and part-time firefighters, firefighters employed by First Nations band councils and fire investigators.

Jacklyn said the expanded cancer coverage gives firefighters a level of comfort knowing their families will get the support they need.

“When we show up to a fire, we don’t know what’s burning, we don’t know what we’re being exposed to,” Jacklyn said. “We have smoke and these days things are burning hotter and faster.

“Modern builds and furniture are all oil-based – all the things that go into those items, the glue, the oils are all carcinogenic.”

Firefighters accept the risks as part of the job but need to know that they’re being supported.

The firefighters association is ‘ecstatic’ with the government’s announcement and they’re not alone.

Fire chiefs in Brant, Norfolk and Haldimand counties also expressed appreciation for the measure.

“Our firefighters are on the front lines each and every day, and put their health and safety at risk to provide a service for the public that has obvious health repercussions, which could be life threatening,” Haldimand Fire Chief Jason Gallagher said in a prepared statement.

Brant County Fire Chief Darren Watson said the county is committed to protecting its volunteer firefighters.

An extra $600,000 to provide additional personal protective equipment including a second set of bunker gear, facilities to safely store bunker gear and washing equipment to protect the firefighters and mitigate exposures, was approved by Brant County council, Watson said in a prepared statement.

Norfolk Fire Chief Gord Stilwell said the government has strengthened its commitment to firefighters and their families by expanding coverage and providing faster access to support systems.

“Firefighters in our community and across the province who provide essential emergency services to our communities 24 hours a day, seven days a week welcome and deserve these newly announced supports,” Stilwell said.

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