CSFD joins trust to help firefighters manage medical bills [Video]

(COLORADO SPRINGS)— Fire departments across the country including right here in Colorado Springs are taking steps to support firefighters diagnosed with cancer. There are currently more than two dozen firefighters with the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) battling cancer.

Cancer is the number one cause of death in firefighters, and now fire departments across the country are asking for more support from city leaders to provide funding for testing and other resources.

“It is a tough road. It’s a tough diagnosis for a lot of our friends. I have a lot of guys on the job that… either have cancer or have had cancer or gone through that fight,” said Capt. JJ Halsey with CSFD.

30 CSFD firefighters currently have cancer, including Dan Knox, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in his spine in October.

“It’s such a lift off the shoulders for the whole family. It really is,” said …