WASHINGTON – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer has reached a significant milestone, surpassing 40,000 enrolled firefighters nationwide, becoming the largest cohort of its kind in the United States dedicated to understanding occupational cancer risks within the fire service.
The registry, led by the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), aims to improve understanding of cancer risks among firefighters and guide prevention efforts. Firefighters face elevated exposure to hazardous substances, including smoke and toxic chemicals encountered during firefighting and disaster response, increasing their risk of certain cancers, according to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).
“This milestone represents more than just numbers. It demonstrates the fire service’s unwavering commitment to understanding and reducing perform-related cancer,” said Kenny Fent, Ph.D., CIH, NFR Team Lead, in a statement released by the CDC. “Every firefighter who joins the NFR plays a vital role in advancing knowledge to help protect the health of all who serve.”
Established by Congress and directed by the CDC, the NFR for Cancer collects detailed work history information from participants and links it with state cancer registries. This data linkage is crucial for identifying cancer trends and evaluating the relationship between occupational exposures and cancer diagnoses, as highlighted by the IAFF.
Enrollment is open to all U.S. Firefighters, including career, volunteer, active, retired, structural, wildland, industrial, and military firefighters, as well as instructors and fire investigators. Participation is voluntary, and the registry welcomes firefighters both with and without cancer diagnoses. The NFR emphasizes the importance of including firefighters without cancer to allow researchers to compare those who develop the disease over time with those who do not.
The registry’s goals include tracking cancer diagnoses, comparing cancer risk among different groups of firefighters, evaluating the impact of exposures – including those during disaster responses like floods and wildfires – and measuring changes in cancer risk over time. The IAFF notes that studies consistently show firefighters face higher rates of certain cancers than the general public.
The Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) has also urged firefighters to join the NFR, emphasizing that the data collected will drive innovation in cancer prevention and support services. The FCSN states that participation is a step toward safeguarding the health and well-being of firefighters for generations to come.
As of February 11, 2026, the NFR for Cancer represents the largest effort ever undertaken to understand and reduce cancer risk among U.S. Firefighters, according to reporting from OHS Online.
