Firefighters shave heads in support of co-workers

SANDY — Firefighters risk their lives every day battling blazes, but an even more ominous threat can emerge years later.

Bob Silverthorne, a Salt Lake firefighter of 18 years, was diagnosed with cancer right before his 36th birthday in 2008. Four years later — after chemotherapy, radiation and multiple surgeries — doctors told Silverthorne he could consider himself cured, with only a slight chance his lymphoma might return.

Now Silverthorne works to share his story, one that is not uncommon in his line of work.

"It's really looming at our back door," Silverthorne said. "We have to think of it as a threat, an enemy. We can't let our guard down. We owe it to our families and friends, and we need to do what we can to watch each other's backs."

Firefighters are two times more susceptible to cancer than the general public, according to a recent national study. Frequent exposure to smoke, soot and combustion byproducts increases their risk.

"I don't want any of my brothers and sisters to have to go through cancer," Silverthorne said. "But it's in the forefront of the firefighters' world right now. I've lost good friends."

At least eight firefighters along the Wasatch Front are currently battling cancer, and the disease claimed the lives of several last year, said Jack Tidrow, president of the Professional Firefighters of Utah.

Today, two from the Salt Lake City Fire Department are fighting for their lives, Silverthorne said.

That's why firefighters from across the Salt Lake Valley gathered in Sandy Friday to shave their heads for a second time: to support their co-workers, educate firefighters about the best preventative practices, and spread public awareness.

"We want to show them they're not alone," Silverthorne said. "We're here, we're fighting tooth and nail, and we'll get through this one way or another."

Bryon Meyer, Salt Lake City deputy fire marshal, said firefighters 20 years ago were exposed to more natural burn products, like wood and cotton, but today they face more chemicals, plastics and resins in their line of work.

"So we have no idea what the effects of those products are going to have on us," Meyer said. "I just hope that as we move forward we can help prevent this increased risk to firefighters in the future and make some changes for the best."

That includes promoting best practices to reduce skin and respiratory exposure on the job, as well as properly decontaminating protective wear, Meyer said.

This year, the Utah Legislature passed a bill providing presumptive cancer coverage for firefighters. Utah became the 35th state to provide such coverage, but Tidrow said in coming years Utah firefighters plan to push for an increase to the list of cancers the bill addresses, since it currently only covers four types.

Mike Radice/KSL-TV

Additionally, Tidrow said all Utah fire departments are being urged to provide annual physical exams and cancer screenings.

"Even if you do everything right, it still happens," Tidrow said. "But we like to think we're doing everything we can for prevention."

Meyer encouraged members of the public to support their local firefighters, whether it be through emotional support or donations.

Firefighters spend so much time and energy saving other lives, it can be easy for them to forget about their own well-being, Silverthorne said. So now, it's a matter of making sure they're using the same effort as they do in the field to take care of themselves.

"The more we can do the better to stay in the fight and stay in service," he said. "We're all in this together."

Contributing: Ashley Kewish

Katie McKellar is a Dixie State University graduate with a bachelor of science in mass communication. Before interning at Deseret News, she reported and edited news content for Dixie Sun News, first as Photo Editor, then as Features Editor. Email: kmckellar@deseretnews.com

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