By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• More than 40,000 fire service members have enrolled in the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer, officials say.
• The registry tracks cancer incidence among current and former U.S. firefighters to support research and health outcomes.
• Enrollment aims to help identify patterns and risk factors tied to firefighting exposures.
• Fire service leaders and medical experts continue promoting participation to strengthen data.
NATIONAL — Enrollment in the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer has surpassed 40,000 participants, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and registry partners announced this week.
The registry, established in 2019, collects health and work history data from active and former firefighters across the United States to support research into cancer risks associated with firefighting exposures.
Officials said participation has grown steadily, with more than 40,000 firefighters enrolled to date, providing researchers with a larger dataset to analyze cancer incidence and potential links to occupational hazards.
The registry is voluntary and open to career, volunteer and wildland firefighters, as well as federal fire personnel, who are encouraged to join to enhance long-term research efforts.
NIOSH and partner organizations said more enrollment will help strengthen scientific understanding of cancer trends, inform prevention strategies and support firefighter health initiatives.