- Firefighters face a higher risk of developing certain types of cancer.
- A bill has been introduced to help set up a trust to fund cancer treatment for firefighters.
- Funding for the trust may stem from private donations, grants, or legislative appropriations.
Firefighters have a much higher risk of developing certain cancers than other people do, because of their long-term exposure to smoke and other hazardous chemicals and materials. Over the last few sessions, the Utah Legislature has been working to help firefighters who are battling cancer.
In 2025, lawmakers passed a law to set up a program to screen the state’s firefighters for cancer, and this year, they’re setting up a fund to help them pay for cancer treatment.
While presenting his bill, HB416, to committee on Thursday, Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan, spoke about how as more firefighters are being screened for cancer the need for funding becomes greater.
“As more firefighters are getting screened and more cancers are being found, we’ve heard some complaints and feedback that there’s a gap between when that cancer’s detected and when the workers’ compensation claims” are completed, he said.
What HB416 would do is establish a cancer benefit trust fund to help these firefighters pay their medical bills and lessen the burden on them and their families.
“As we think about these amazing public service members that run into fires and dangers and are often the first responders when anything happens, this is really the least that we can do,” Teuscher said.
“They put their lives on the line and as a result of that, now are having to deal with the effects of these cancers,” the representative added.
After passing through the House, HB416 advanced through the Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee unanimously on Thursday. It will now go to a vote on the Senate floor.
What would this trust look like?
“I just want to humanize this a little bit for you,” said Jeremy Craft, the fire chief for Lehi City, during the committee’s public comment period.
Craft was diagnosed with two types of occupational cancer in 2023. He shared that he was fortunate to have a good savings account when he was diagnosed so he could start treatment quickly.
“Because when you’re diagnosed you want nothing more than to get that treatment underway,” he said.
He believes some of the younger firefighters who are being diagnosed with cancer don’t have the savings to fall back on like he did. This bill would help these firefighters.
“This bill, what it really does is it gets them started right away. They get to make those decisions on how to get treatment as their workers’ comp claim works through there.”
Craft also thanked the committee for hearing the bill.
“I would urge your support, I thank the good representative for helping us on this bill, and please vote yes,” he added.
Speaking in support of HB416, Craft urged the senators to vote in favor of it.
The funding for this trust can come from private donations, grants and other revenue sources with the option for the Legislature to appropriate additional funds as needed.
While filling in the gap for the firefighters, HB416 also looks to reduce workers’ compensation claims and help give early support to firefighters that are diagnosed with the presumptive cancers.
The bill would set up a board study to figure out the exact amounts needed and it would set up the trust fund to guarantee a funding mechanism. There would also be an 11 member board of trustees to oversee the fund. The board would include, legislators, fire chiefs, firefighters, a medical expert, municipal officials and an investment professional.
Teuscher said that the topic will probably have to be brought back next year for more guidance on how to distribute these funds.
“I think there’s more that we can do to provide support to our firefighters and that includes looking at mental health treatment and other things that could come as this trust fund continues to grow and so I’m committed to working on that and ensuring that we’re taking care of these true heroes that we have in our community,” Teuscher said.
Recognizing firefighter cancer has been a decades-long journey
Jack Tidrow, the president of Professional Firefighters of Utah, said that they have been working for 22 years to help firefighters with cancer. He said the process all began in 2004.
Last year, Tidrow said that 60% of line of duty deaths for firefighters are from occupational cancers.
In 2025, the Legislature made a big step in helping firefighters with cancer by setting up a process for regular cancer screenings through HB65.
Last year was the biggest step when the legislature set up a screening process for firefighters with HB65. That bill was sponsored by Rep. Casey Snider, R-Paradise.
Along with setting up the cancer screening, the legislature also expanded the list of presumptive cancers for firefighters. Lawmakers said that Utah now has the most robust firefighter cancer program in the country thanks to HB65.
In 2015, a bill passed to set four presumptive cancers for firefighters. In 2025 the list was expanded to 15. Presumptive cancers are conditions that are presumed to have been caused by one’s occupation.
The cancers on the expanded list are:
- Bladder
- Brain
- Colorectal
- Esophageal
- Kidney
- Leukemias
- Lung
- Lymphomas
- Melanomas
- Mesotheliomas
- Oropharynx
- Ovarian
- Prostate
- Testicular
- Thyroid
“The cancers that are added to this list, are added because there is scientific proof and consensus that these particular cancers come as a result of fighting fire, as a result of protecting our communities,” Snider said last year while presenting HB65.