Firefighters past and present urged to register with the CDC's National Firefighter Registry for Cancer
San Diego, CA - January 9: A San Diego firefighter arrives at a single family home that caught fire in Clairemont on January 9, 2026, in San Diego, CA. A couple and their grandson were able to get out of the home safely. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The S
Every day, firefighters play a vital role in communities, working to save lives and property, at times in potentially life-threatening situations. Due to the nature of the job, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), firefighters have a 9 percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14 percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population.
The backstory:
While in the line of duty, firefighters are exposed to hazardous substances such as smoke and toxic chemicals, increasing their risk of certain cancers. To better understand the link between firefighting and cancer, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) established the National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer to study and reduce cancer risk in the fire service.
Dig deeper:
The NFR collects detailed work history information and links it with state cancer registries to improve understanding of occupational cancer risks and guide efforts to prevent cancer among firefighters.
To date, the NFR says more than 40,000 firefighters have joined the NFR, and it is now the largest firefighter cohort in the nation dedicated to understanding occupational cancer risks and advancing prevention efforts to protect firefighters' health.
What they're saying:
"This milestone represents more than just numbers. It demonstrates the fire service's unwavering commitment to understanding and reducing work-related cancer," said Kenny Fent, Ph.D., CIH, NFR Team Lead. "Every firefighter who joins the NFR plays a vital role in advancing knowledge to help protect the health of all who serve."
NEW JERSEY, US - DECEMBER 1: Hawthorne firefighters battle a multiple alarm fire at 482 Goffle Road in Hawthorne, New Jersey, United States on December 1, 2025. Firefighters are battling a fire that heavily engulfed a house resulting in large flames
What you can do:
Who can join the National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer
Participation in NFR is voluntary and enrollment is open to all U.S. firefighters, with or without cancer, no matter their length of service, can join the NFR. This includes:
- Active, former, and retired firefighters
- Career, paid-on-call, and volunteer firefighters
- Structural firefighters
- Wildland firefighters
- Industrial firefighters
- Military firefighters
- Instructors
- Fire investigators
- Other fire service members
Why you should care:
The NFR says it's important that firefighters with and without a cancer diagnosis join NFR. Doing so allows NIOSH scientists to compare those who develop cancer over time to those who do not and leads to a better understanding of the factors that contribute to the development of cancer in firefighters. To join NFR, visit nfr.cdc.gov.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). This story was reported from Orlando.