NFR for Cancer Newsletter

Greetings from the manager of the NFR for Cancer

2025 was a big year for the NIOSH NFR for Cancer Program, and 2026 is already off to a strong start. More than 40,000 firefighters have enrolled in the NFR, and 100 fire departments nationwide have earned Gold Helmet status. In addition, more than 20 organizations have officially become NFR Champions.

We also updated our NFR Data Dashboard with new charts and features that highlight cancer education and prevention. Read more about this below.

While we celebrate these milestones, our work continues. In 2026, we aim to:

• Grow participation in the NFR
• Establish new partnerships and collaborations
• Analyze incoming data
• Advance our understanding of firefighters' cancer risk

The "Firefighter Spotlight" story below highlights what truly motivates us. By learning from the nation's firefighters—with and without cancer—we hope to identify factors associated with increasing cancer risk and find ways to reduce this risk.

To help with this mission, we have established official collaborations with:

• The Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study (FFCCS) being led by the University of Arizona
• The Washington State Council of Fire Fighters and their Personal Injury and Illness Exposure Reporting System (PIIERS)
• The International Public Safety Data Institute (IPSDI) and their Exposure Tracker

NFR participants involved with these studies or services can now request that their information (e.g., exposure history) be shared with the NFR. This helps their data to go even further and can help address critical knowledge gaps. We will continue to look for ways to collaborate with researchers who share our commitment to firefighter health.

The NFR is grateful to all our amazing partners, champions, and advocates. Thank you for helping firefighters understand the importance of the NFR. Please share this newsletter with others in your network or community and help us spread the word.

Kenny Fent, Captain, U.S. Public Health Service, Manager, National Firefighter Registry for Cancer (NFR)

Firefighter spotlight: Derek Hartman

Every firefighter's story matters. In this newsletter, hear from Derek Hartman, a cancer survivor and Fire Medic III, whose experience underscores the importance of firefighter cancer awareness and prevention.

"My name is Derek Hartman. I have been a Fire Medic III with the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services since 2007. My story is unique but should be an eye opener to all firefighters nationwide. My story began on July 8, 2016. I was 32 years old and in the best shape of my life. I was out on a boat with my kids and girlfriend, Bobi Jo, enjoying a beautiful day. I started having abdominal pain about 30 minutes into the day. I didn't pay attention to it at first, but after about 90 minutes the pain became severe. I told my girlfriend we were going to have to head back to the marina because I wasn't feeling well, and I thought "I was dying."

After an ambulance ride to the local facility, I was sent for a CAT scan and advised I was headed to surgery. What followed was a 16-hour surgery where my abdomen was cut from top to bottom and an ostomy (surgical procedure that creates an opening in the abdomen) was performed. Next were a few days of miserable recovery due to complications with paralytic ileus (intestines stopped moving). I was told that what doctors originally thought was diverticulitis was actually colon cancer.

I was transferred to a facility near my home in West Virginia and then to Johns Hopkins University where I was assigned to a surgical oncologist. The news kept getting worse. The surgeon told me that I had stage 3b colon cancer and 86% of people don't live to see 5 years. That was quite the kick in the teeth. I had no medical history or family history of cancer. I had no symptoms or warning signs. The next year was a mental and physical battle with 6 months of chemotherapy and a second surgery in February 2017 when I was advised I was in remission. I was fortunate enough to return to work full duty in September 2017.

My advice to all firefighters is look out for yourself and your fellow firefighters. Don't think for a second that it can't happen to you because it seems like it's only becoming more frequent. Make your physical condition a priority. Doctors told me that my outcome was significantly better due to the condition of my body before I was sick, so take care of yourself and stay in shape. Lastly, sign up for the NFR for Cancer so that we learn more about the cancers affecting firefighters and hopefully ways to prevent it."

Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month toolkit

Thanks to everyone who has encouraged firefighters to join the NFR this Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month. There's still time to spread the word. The updated toolkit includes ready-to-use images and messages you can share to inspire firefighters to join the NFR this month. Download toolkit resources on our website.

Updates to the NFR Data Dashboard

To support transparency and cancer education, we've added a new page to the NFR Data Dashboard. This new page provides an overview of the most common cancer types being self-reported by NFR participants during enrollment. Click on a specific cancer type to learn more about it, including common risk factors and applicable screening guidelines. Explore the NFR Data Dashboard.

New cancer and exposure reduction infographic

Hazardous substances can transfer from firefighters' gear to their skin, equipment, and even the station. To help reduce this risk, NIOSH has released a new infographic: How to Remove Your Gear at a Fire Incident.

This infographic shows the proper steps for removing gear at a fire incident to help minimize exposure to harmful contaminants.

Thank you to our 2025 NFR Champions

In September 2025, we launched our NFR Champions initiative to recognize organizations actively encouraging firefighters to join the NFR. In just 3 months, more than 20 organizations earned the title of Champion.

We're excited to continue working with these organizations and others to protect firefighter health and safety. Visit our website to see the full list of Champions and learn how to get involved.

Gold Helmet initiative

The list of Gold Helmet Departments continues to grow! We are now up to 100 Gold Helmet Departments from 28 states. Gold Helmet Departments are U.S. fire departments with at least half of their active firefighters or more than 300 of their active firefighters enrolled in the NFR.

Newest Gold Helmet Departments

• Barrow County Fire Department, GA
• Brighton Fire Rescue District, CO
• Buckeye Fire Medical Rescue Department, AZ
• Burlington Fire Department, VT
• Chandler Fire Department, AZ
• City of Seminole Fire Rescue, FL
• Country Oaks Volunteer Fire Department, FL
• Douglas Fire Department, AZ
• Ellis County Fire Department, KS
• Fire District #1 Johnson County, KS
• Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Fire Department, AZ
• Fountain Hills Fire Department, AZ
• Front Range Fire Rescue, CO
• Fry Fire District, AZ
• Gulfport Fire Rescue, FL
• Heard County Fire & Emergency Services, GA
• Honolulu Fire Department, HI
• Kansas City Fire Department, MO
• Kauai Fire Department, HI
• Laramie County Fire Authority, WY
• Leawood Fire Department, KS
• Liberal Fire Department, KS
• Manchester Fire Department, GA
• Maui County Fire Department, HI
• Montgomery County Maryland Fire and Rescue Service, MD
• Newton Fire EMS, KS
• Northern Arizona Fire District, AZ
• Oldsmar Fire Rescue, FL
• Oviedo Fire Department, FL
• Pinellas Park Fire Department, FL
• Phoenix Fire Department, AZ
• Saint Petersburg Fire Rescue, FL
• Salina Fire Department, KS
• Salt River Fire Department, AZ
• Smyrna Fire Department, GA
• South Pasadena Fire Department, FL
• South Strabane Fire & Emergency Services, PA
• Southern Platte Fire Protection District, MO
• Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue, FL
• Taylorstown Volunteer Fire Department, PA
• Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Department, AZ
• Temple Terrace Fire Department, FL
• Treasure Island Fire Rescue, FL

Introducing the 500 Club

We're proud to recognize four departments that have gone above and beyond, each with over 500 participants enrolled in the NFR:

• Honolulu Fire Department, HI
• Kansas City Fire Department, MO
• Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, VA
• Phoenix Fire Department, AZ

Scientific publications

NFR researchers coauthored two publications from an electric vehicle (EV) and internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) exposure assessment project, led by the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes.

The first manuscript, led by FSRI, characterized several compounds during EV and ICEV fires through area air samples. Specifically, we found concentrations of metals, particularly those found in lithium-ion batteries like manganese, nickel, lithium, and cobalt, were much higher during EV fires relative to concentrations found during ICEV fires. We also found fluoride particulate was much higher during EV fires. Both types of fire responses produce combustion products that could present health hazards to responders.

The second manuscript, led by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), characterized the chemical components of particulate matter (microscopic solids or liquids that can be inhaled and cause health problems) collected from EV and ICEV fires and evaluated its toxic potential. Consistent with the first study, EV fire smoke particulate matter contained higher levels of metals and fluoride than ICEV smoke. Additionally, EV fire smoke particulate matter induced stronger toxic effects than particulate matter from ICEV fires.

Conferences and meetings

The NFR continues to attend conferences and meetings to share information about the NFR and provide direct enrollment support to firefighters throughout the United States. NFR staff are also available to provide virtual presentations upon request (subject to availability). If you know of any upcoming fire service conferences, meetings, or other gatherings of fire personnel, email us at NFRegistry@cdc.gov. We'd love to connect.

Learn more about how NIOSH helps firefighters

In addition to the NFR, NIOSH conducts research and provides various services to support firefighter safety and health. To stay informed about NIOSH firefighter work, sign up for email updates or visit our Center for Firefighter Safety, Health, and Well-being page.

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