Bill Would Ease Workers Comp For Firefighters

Idaho firefighters who get cancer they think is caused on the job are a step closer to winning stronger workers compensation protections.

Professional Firefighters of Idaho representative Mike Walker told the Senate State Affairs Committee on Friday the state’s first responders have for years fought to win coverage for a variety of cancers they say result from putting out carcinogen-laden fires.

That effort took a long-awaited step forward Friday when the panel advanced the bill to the full chamber, though they’ll consider adding some minor changes.

Walker says firefighters are chronically exposed to cancer-causing toxins during their careers and suffer related diseases more often than the general public.

But he says proving that direct connection has been an extraordinary burden to surpass in workers compensation cases.