David Kronke – The Tribune-Star, Terre Haute, Ind.
One might expect that being diagnosed with thyroid cancer a few days after one’s 33rd birthday would be traumatizing.
But for Lt. Austin Jacks of the Terre Haute Fire Department, the initial shock was leavened significantly.
“It was a curse, but at the same time, a blessing since they found it so early,” Jacks said. He received a radioactive iodine treatment and was quarantined for seven days. The iodine attacked the remainder of his thyroid, thereby killing the rest of his cancer. He is now cancer-free.
Indeed, Terre Haute firefighters proved in 2024 that receiving early cancer diagnoses can prolong their lives, and Chief Darrick Scott, Firefighters Union Local 758 and the city negotiated a new contract that calls for each firefighter to receive a cancer screening once a year.
“Firefighters have a 9% higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer compared to the general population,” reported Jay Umbaugh, Local 758 President.
“In 2022 alone, 75% of line-of-duty deaths among [American and Canadian firefighters] were attributed to occupational cancer.”
“During our most recent contract negotiations, we secured an agreement to make cancer screenings a permanent component of our physicals,” he added. “These screenings are a critical step in early detection, offering our members a better chance at recovery and reducing the likelihood of the disease advancing to later stages.
“Early detection can be life-saving, and this program has already proven its worth,” Umbaugh said.
Chief Scott said, “We go out to save lives — the taxpayers have saved our lives by giving us this opportunity and the money in the budgets to give us the tools to save our lives.”
The city paid $350 for each firefighter’s ultrasound, or roughly $48,650, and diagnosed four firefighters with cancer. They are either being treated or have received treatments and have been declared cancer free, though they will need regular screenings in the future.
Saving four lives with $48,650 would seem to be a veritable bargain. It will cost a little more in 2025, as the Fire Department has added a dozen firefighters to its rolls in the past year.
“Chief Scott and the fire union did an excellent job outlining the need for this program,” said Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun. “I appreciate Deputy Chief [Bob] Malone for staying on me about it. This was a common-sense decision that has already proven beneficial.
“These individuals signed up to run into burning buildings,” he added. “There are a multitude of health challenges for firefighters. We’ve got to rapidly identify them and help our heroes get back in the fight and live long and healthy lives.”
Hence, the city is ponying up for other costs to protect firefighters — after a year of work, all receive two sets of gear, which allows firefighters to change and wash gear between calls. A set of gear costs $5,000, and getting particulate hoods for all on staff cost almost $40,000.
Hoods shield high-risk areas like the head and neck from carcinogenic exposure.
Scott said firefighting has become more dangerous since the 1960s, when by-products of plastics and oils were used more often in construction rather than natural products like wood.
“You don’t have the natural combustible materials anymore — you have a multitude of different chemicals,” he said. “A fire now doubles in intensity every 30 seconds.”
Jacks said he found out about his diagnosis while planning a wedding with his fiancée.
“Everything happened so quick,” he said. “It was very surreal. … But I have friends all over the state in different fire departments and if my story can push another screening in there, I think that would be huge.”
Firefighter/paramedic Adam Chalos also was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
“It was a great opportunity for me, because they caught it early — they removed it during surgery, so I didn’t have to go through chemo,” he said. His diagnosis was confirmed in September and he underwent an operation in December.
“They told me after surgery that they got all of it,” and a second test confirmed that,” he said.
When Scott introduced the results of his initiative to the Terre Haute City Council, Adam’s father, councilman (and former firefighter) Jim Chalos, praised Chief Scott for the program.
“I thanked him, the mayor and the union for being so studious about getting that done, or that’s something you still wouldn’t know my son had,” Jim Chalos said. “That’s a blessing, to catch that stuff early.”
Another goal for Chief Scott is obtaining new commercial gear washers and dryers in all stations but Station 5, which got new machines in 2020. This would allow firefighters to clean their gear immediately after a call and be in clean gear if a second call is received during their shifts.
“After a fire, it’s important to get that gear cleaned as soon as possible,” Jacks said. “Because if we have two fires in a day, which is very possible, after that second fire, what do we do?”
The total cost would be $100,000, but the Fire Department has applied for a grant to pay for the machines. It it doesn’t receive the full amount, it will scale back on the acquisition, said Department Public Information Officer Nick Arnold.
The next round of screenings will be in April. Screeners come to the stations and give the firefighters ultrasounds to detect stray lumps inside their bodies.
“Despite these advancements, the fight against cancer in the fire service remains an uphill battle,” said Union President Umbaugh. “As union president, my role involves educating our members about prevention measures, such as washing gear immediately after a fire, showering within one hour of exposure, and participating in cancer screenings. These steps, combined with healthy lifestyle choices, are vital to reducing risks.”
“I hope the firefighters can rest at ease knowing that this will be an ongoing process, and if better tests come along, we’ll fight hard to get that process put in place,” Scott said. “It’s one less thing to worry about. Occupational cancer is the leading cause of death in firefighters.
“I know firefighters who have died of numerous different cancers,” he added. “We fought hard for this, in honor of them we fought hard for this. This is a great move.”
The Airing of Grievances: Your Responsibilities in Preventing a Cancer Diagnosis
Sleep, Alcohol, and Cancer Prevention: A Playbook for Firefighters
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