Blaise Ingoglia provides firefighter cancer prevention funding to three municipalities

Florida Chief Financial Officer and Fire Marshal Blaise Ingoglia distributed nearly $200,000 in state grants to three municipal fire departments Wednesday to help prevent and treat cancer for first responders who go into dangerous situations that can expose them to carcinogens.

Ingoglia at a news conference in Lakeland said the help for firefighters and emergency medical technicians is long overdue.

“First responders are the backbone of our community,” Ingoglia said. “Florida is very fortunate to have the best firefighters in the nation. They respond quickly, efficiently and effectively … We must make sure firefighters have the equipment they need.”

The perils of being a first responder are much more intense now than they have been in the past, Ingoglia said. Firefighters have a higher risk of being exposed to chemicals and agents that weren’t a factor in the past.

“Local governments must fund our first responders as the first line item on the budget,” Ingoglia said.

A total of $186,000 was distributed through checks presented during the news conference Wednesday. The Frostproof Fire Department received $139,000. Lakeland received a grant of $34,000 and Auburndale was awarded $12,000.

Grant funding is available through the Firefighter Assistance Grant Program and the Firefighter Decontamination Program.

State Rep. Jennifer Canady, a Lakeland Republican, was at the event Wednesday and said she’s been pushing for relief for firefighters amid all the chemical dangers they face in the Legislature.

“It’s very exciting to see that we’re at a point where we’re making progress,” Canady said.

Trent Barrs, the Treasure Island Fire Chief and President of the Florida Fire Chiefs Association, said many don’t realize the long-term effects firefighters suffer when they enter toxic emergency situations.

“Our men and women in our fire service should have a 25-year career and go on to a 25-year retirement. Unfortunately that’s not the case,” Barrs said. “These grants are going to help prevent that so they can live long and happy lives.”