State Bill Aims To Help Firefighters Get Free Cancer Screenings

A bill moving through the Oklahoma legislature would pay for free cancer screenings for firefighters. 

The CDC lists cancer as a leading cause of death among the men and women saving our lives and property.

The goal of House Bill 3573 is to help the roughly 20,000 paid and volunteer firefighters across the state, like the ones at Rock Fire Department, who were busy Tuesday taming grassfires.

High winds are kicking up wildfires in Osage County, and volunteers with Rock Fire are working hard to keep them under control. 

"We've got a fire, and we're backfiring these roads and sending it back to the creeks," says Chief Charley Pearson.

He has been fighting fires like this for decades and admits this is a high-risk job.

"Anything you go through in life is dangerous, but we're protecting homes, and we're protecting people, so we know we have to do this," said Pearson.

Pearson's crew is also battling thick smoke, something the CDC says puts firefighters at greater risk of cancer. 

"It's always been the story. Well, we don't know where it comes from, but we do know this smoke isn't good for your health, and we try to stay out of it,” said Pearson.

He says hazardous conditions are part of the job, but protection from the side effects of those hazards is the goal of a bill just passed by the Oklahoma House.

"Anything that benefits us, you know we're one hundred percent behind."

House Bill 3573 would allow for a $250 tax credit for firefighters who get screenings through private insurance. It would also let city and county fire departments take part in the Oklahoma Employees Insurance and Benefits plan that cover screenings. Chief Pearson says his small department will take all the help they can get.

"I'm telling you, anything they do like that is not going hurt us," he said. "It's only going to help us."

The bill also encourages Cancer Treatment centers to provide free screenings as well.