VIDEO: The Olive Fire Department, a small volunteer unit with 13 firefighters, is taking steps to protect its members from cancer risks after participating in a study led by Oklahoma doctors focused on the effects of smoke and soot-related chemicals. Chief Jason Dobson has been a firefighter since he was 18.
“All the years, I thought, I wonder if I’ll have cancer from being a firefighter,” he said. Reflecting on his early years in the profession, he noted, “I started out when I was younger and we didn’t have the best protective equipment, we didn’t have breathing gear we could rely on, so we did breathe in these chemicals from fires.” Dobson has spent 30 years contemplating the health risks associated with his job.
“Studies and data show firefighters have a higher chance of getting cancer than the normal population just because of the fact that what burns produces cancer and carcinogens, and we’re breathing that,” he said. The study, conducted by the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, involved measuring the effects of smoke and soot-related chemicals, with Dobson and his department participating by providing blood, urine, and clothing samples.
“Being a part of this study where they came out looking, taking our blood, taking the urine, sampling our clothing, that gave us a timeline of seeing if we had cancer or had these particular markers they were looking for,” Dobson said. Although none of the Olive firefighters had the markers, Dobson acknowledged the potential for future changes and emphasized the importance of taking extra precautions and conducting annual testing.
His department is now focusing on cleaning gear and trucks to prevent chemical exposure. Dobson highlighted the challenges faced by volunteer departments. “As volunteers, my biggest deal is get a physical,” he said. A recent bill passed by the Oklahoma Legislature, known as “The Fighting Chance for Firefighters Act,” provides a tax credit for firefighters to undergo cancer detection procedures. Dobson hopes to raise awareness among other firefighters about the risks and available testing. “As quick as you can find a cancer and as quick as you can treat it, the better survival chance somebody has,” he said.
