While preventing fatal illness remains the goal, the province has taken a step forward by easing access to workers’ compensation benefits for firefighters diagnosed with job-related cancers.

“The ultimate goal is to limit exposures and prevent the illness, but that could be a long way off,” said Rob Chalmers, a retired Kamloops Fire Rescue firefighter.

“I think we’ve come a long, long ways as far as protecting firefighters with good equipment and way better training.”

Chalmers’ comments came after the provincial government announced changes in early March to the Firefighters’ Occupational Disease Regulation under the Workers Compensation Act, expanding the list of cancers presumed to be work-related for firefighters.

These changes came almost a month to the day that his brother-in-law, retired fire chief Neil Moroz, died from occupational cancer.

Having access to the benefits provided by Workers Compensation made all the difference for Moroz and his family during the last months of his life, when the cancer really took hold, said Chalmers.

“If they had to spend the last eight, eight and a half months fighting with WorkSafeBC, worrying about paying for access to equipment, treatment and travel, it really would have taken away from the time [Moroz] had with his family,” he said.

“He got to enjoy them and they got to enjoy him without being stressed out the whole time about getting the treatment, paying for the treatment and the equipment.”

Under the amendments, ovarian, cervical and penile cancers will be added to the existing list of cancers recognized as occupational diseases linked to firefighting.

The province is also reducing the length of service required before firefighters qualify for presumptive coverage for several cancers already on the list, including testicular, colorectal and esophageal cancers.

If a firefighter develops one of the listed cancers after the required period of employment, it is presumed to be work-related. That means the firefighter can access workers’ compensation benefits without having to prove the illness was caused by their job.

Although not yet a perfect situation, Chalmers, who is a former member of the B.C. Professional Firefighters Association, believes these amendments are a step in the right direction.

“It’s good for all firefighters and their families,” he said.

The changes met with the approval of the firefighters’ union president Gord Ditchburn. He’s thankful the list of occupational diseases was expanded, and includes female firefighters.

“Our female firefighters who are on the front lines must be recognized, and we stand with them in our advocacy for health, safety and support of all members,” he said in a press release.

Provincial officials say the changes also reflect the evolving makeup of the firefighting workforce. More women are entering the profession, including many serving as volunteers in Indigenous and rural communities, and the updated list now includes gender-specific cancers.

The province first recognized certain cancers as occupational diseases tied to firefighting in 2005. With the latest changes, 16 cancers will now be presumed to be associated with the profession.

Both career firefighters and roughly 10,000 volunteer firefighters in B.C. are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits related to occupational diseases, including cancer.

Chalmers said 60 firefighters a year die from occupational cancer, with 84 B.C. firefighters dying from the same in the last 15 years.