A row of firefighters’ helmets, coats, and boots in suspendered pants hang at the ready at a fire station. A prefiled bill in the Alabama Legislature would extend death benefits to survivors of volunteer firefighters who die of cancer that develops while they perform their duties. (Getty Images)
An Alabama legislator is sponsoring legislation to compensate the families of volunteer firefighters stricken with cancer while performing their duties.
HB 35, sponsored by Rep. Russell Bedsole, R-Alabaster, would make survivors of volunteer firefighters eligible to receive the death benefits awarded by the State Board of Adjustment for first responders who perish in the line of duty.
“Homes in today’s world have so many more carcinogens in them, just the basic materials that are inside the homes, whether it is construction-related materials or the personal possessions we all love, electronics and things of that nature, that could potentially, if they are exposed to that much heat, put off harmful toxins,” Bedsole said in an interview Tuesday. “Firefighters are at an extreme risk, and we know this.”
Legislators approved the same benefit for career firefighters several years ago, but did not include firefighters who volunteer for the post for smaller municipal areas. The legislation passed the Alabama House of Representatives in last spring’s session but failed to advance out of the Senate.
“Our volunteer firefighters are facing the same challenges in their communities,” Bedsole said. “They are going into the same homes. They are just serving as volunteers.”
Under the bill, the volunteer firefighter must be an active member of a volunteer fire department recognized by the Alabama Forestry Commission and served at least six years before getting diagnosed with cancer.
It also states that the fire department must keep records that indicate the volunteer was exposed to a known carcinogen.
The volunteer firefighters must also undergo a physical exam before their loved ones are eligible to receive the benefit.
“The reason I say that it is a benefit is that one of the hopes through this is maybe there are some volunteers out there who have not gotten a physical in some time, and perhaps they can go in and get a clean bill of health, or, in getting their doctor to do a physical, they might discover that they have something they didn’t know.”
Professional firefighters also undergo physical exams, be that when they attend training to become certified as firefighters or as they work for fire departments throughout the state.
“This is a fully funded annuity that, unless we have some sort of crisis where we have a lot of claims made, the annuity will pay off any claims as we go,” Bedsole said. “We are not asking for any additional tax dollars out of this.”
The Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments did not respond to a request for comment last week.
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