Florida Fire Marshal Awards Grants to Fight Firefighter Cancer and PTSD

HIALEAH, FL — Florida firefighters face more than just flames when responding to emergencies, and state officials say new funding will help address the hidden dangers of the job.

Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Blaise Ingoglia was in Hialeah to announce a $1.5 million grant aimed at reducing cancer risk and addressing mental health challenges among firefighters.

Ingoglia says the funding will be used to purchase decontamination equipment designed to remove toxic chemicals and carcinogens firefighters are exposed to when battling fires involving plastics and other hazardous materials.

He also emphasized that cancer is not the only threat facing first responders, pointing to PTSD and suicide as serious and ongoing concerns within the firefighting community.

Hialeah Fire Chief Humberto Perez thanked the state for the funding, saying the equipment will help keep firefighters safer both on the fireground and back at their stations.

Miami-Dade Fire Union President Bill McCallister also highlighted the importance of mental health resources, saying PTSD can be just as deadly as cancer if left untreated.

State officials say the grants are part of a broader effort to protect firefighters’ long-term health and well-being.