Cancer is killing fire fighters. In the past decade, more fire fighters have died from cancer than any other fire scene hazard. Major news outlets, including NBC and CNN, have begun covering this hidden danger, and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is leading efforts to educate the public and policy makers about cancer in the fire service.

The issue is the focus of the IAFF Cancer Summit, a one-day conference bringing together occupational safety and health experts, top researchers, physicians and other subject matter expertsto better understand and step up the fight against cancer.

(This dramatic story must be told. Journalists covering public safety and health issues are encouraged to attend. The event will be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/iaffonline.)

The Cancer Summit features a range of topics, including the latest science linking cancer and firefighting, current research on fire fighter exposures to carcinogens, andprevention strategies, as well as updates on legislative efforts to protect fire fighters and their families.

“Cancer can be devastatingfor fire fighters, and we are just beginning to understand the scope of this problem,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger.“That’s why we’re bringing together the best and brightest minds on this subject. We must continue to learn all that we can to save more lives.”