Nebraska fire and rescue teams gather for memorial of the fallen
As part of the Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Associations’ annual conference, fire and rescue members across Nebraska gathered in Kearney on Sunday to remember their fallen friends and family.
In 2017, 42 members of firefighters, EMS and auxiliary passed away.
Whether it is on the job or after hours, volunteer fire and rescue teams willingly risk their lives to save those in the community.
Matt Fitzgerald from the Nebraska Firefighters Museum says the bond between team members becomes more like a brother or sisterhood.
“You might be from one side of the state but you’ll know somebody from the other side of the state. You’ll keep in touch, go to these conferences, go to fire schools and stuff like that, a lot of friends in the service itself so it’s basically a big family,” said Fitzgerald.
That family is working to combat a health issue among fire and rescue members.
“Cancer has become a big problem with the fire service as well as like heart conditions. A lot of times, those will get a firefighter before the actual job itself,” said Fitzgerald.
“It’s kind of a heightened time right now for cancer especially and that’s due to building constructions and when we’re even in car fires or whatever, we need to pack up so we’re breathing good air and not breathing in any of the bad air,” said Marlene Bomar, President of the NSVFA.
Bomar says they are working with the legislature to gather numbers on the health issues among firefighters and EMS because she said the reason that many pass away could be because of work situations they were called out to. Bomar said cancer presumption insurance could help.
In January, Nebraska fire and rescue will meet with members of the legislature to voice their concerns- and one of those concerns being with the cancer presumption insurance.
According to the First Responders Center organization, 33 states cover firefighters for cancer diagnoses.
In Nebraska, volunteer firefighters are currently not included.
Courtesy: NTV
