Jonesboro, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – The Jonesboro Fire Department (JFD) has achieved a historic milestone, not just for the city, but for the ongoing health and safety of first responders across the country.

On May 11, the department announced on Facebook that it was recognized as a Gold Helmet Department by the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). This designation is awarded only to fire departments where at least 50% of the active roster voluntarily enrolls in the National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer.

Chief Marty Hamrick said this makes JFD one of only 165 departments in the United States to achieve this status, and only the second in the state of Arkansas, joining the Rogers Fire Department.

The push to cross that 50% threshold gained serious momentum following a recent presentation by an NFR representative at the department.

“It takes about 10 to 15 minutes, and they can do it right from their cell phones,” Hamrick said, noting how accessible the registry has become for the crew.

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Cancer is currently the leading occupational hazard for the fire service, increasingly edging out heart attacks as the number one killer of firefighters, the American Cancer Society reported.

Hamrick pointed out that in the 1970s and earlier, house fires primarily involved natural materials. Today, modern homes and businesses are filled with synthetics and plastics. He explained that as the active flames of a structure fire are extinguished, those burning plastics release a thick, black smoke heavily saturated with dangerous carcinogens.

According to the CDC, the NFR serves as a database that cross-references with state cancer registries, helping researchers understand why firefighters are more likely to develop certain cancers, particularly skin cancer, compared to the general public.

For the JFD, the threat of cancer is not just a statistical probability; it is a painful local reality. Last year, the department lost one of its own to a battle with what is believed to be work-related skin cancer.

“This job is inherently dangerous,” Hamrick said. “So we look for the small things… giving these guys some more resources to help them have a long and healthy career, and then have a long and healthy retirement. That’s the goal.”

While the national registry collects data for the future, the JFD is working to minimize chemical exposure in Jonesboro right now.

Hamrick said the department has implemented rigorous decontamination protocols. On the scene of a fire, crews now actively monitor oxygen and carbon dioxide levels inside a structure before firefighters are ever permitted to remove their breathing apparatus.

Before climbing back into the rigs, Hamrick said firefighters undergo a preliminary wash-down by scrubbing their gear with soap and water to remove the heavy, toxic soot. Decontamination continues at the station, where specialized decon soap is used in the showers to ensure the crew’s skin is completely free of hazardous residue.

In their announcement, the department issued a formal challenge to all other U.S. fire departments to step up and join the registry.

The NFR is open to all U.S. firefighters, active or retired, with or without a cancer diagnosis. Local responders interested in joining the effort can find more information and sign up at the NFR website by clicking here.

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