They are heroes in our community who put their lives on the line every day to protect us. But because of the toxins they're exposed to, cancer is now the leading cause of death among firefighters.
January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month, which is why the International Association of Firefighters and the Firefighter Cancer Support Network are working together to deliver educational resources to departments across the country to help reduce the risk of occupational cancer.
Gilbert Aguirre, a firefighter with the Goodyear Fire Department, was diagnosed with a form of leukemia in 2015. He says doctors believe it was caused by breathing in carcinogens while fighting fires.
"You start thinking about your family, your kids, your future," Aguirre said. "You end up having to come up with a plan."