Aging U.S. fire stations expose firefighters to hazards
Some 59 percent of fire stations in the U.S. are not equipped with exhaust emission control systems, which are critical for mitigating firefighter exposure/keywords/13730-occupational-exposure to diesel fumes. Exposure to these fumes can increase the likelihood of cardiovascular disease, cardiopulmonary disease, respiratory disease, and lung cancer. Many firefighters sleep in fire stations because they work extended shifts – an arrangement which increases their chance of exposure.
That finding is one of the sobering statistics in a new report issued on the fire service’s aging infrastructure by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).