We’re excited to share this insightful article from SF Chronicle that sheds light on the critical issue of firefighter health. San Francisco Firefighter and SFFCPF Board Director BC Matt Alba contributed to this comprehensive article by sharing his experiences at the Camp Fire (Paradise, CA) in 2018.

He describes how 80 firefighters had their blood drawn through SFFCPF funding. The results were chilling – high levels of mercury, lead, flame retardants and chemicals from plastics in their blood.

Firefighters are exposed to a wide range of toxicants beyond burning buildings or forests, including diesel exhaust fumes and chemicals in uniforms and firefighting foams.