Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia announced the allocation of millions of dollars to protect firefighters from dangerous cancer-causing chemicals.
“We are awarding over $14 million to protect our firefighters from dangerous, cancer-causing chemicals and to ensure that they have the fire infrastructure ready for any emergency ahead,” Ingoglia said.
The Chief Financial Officer for the state also said job-related cancer rates are increasing among firefighters.
Hillsborough County Commissioner Chris Boles was among those in attendance. He is currently battling cancer related to his former job.
“I served as a firefighter for 29 years before being elected to county commissioner, and I worked with these men and women,” Boles said. “Unfortunately, I contracted cancer myself, and it’s these kinds of funds that can help us protect these men and women back here.”
Some of the funds will be used for new fire stations, like in Pasco County. In other cases, the money will be used for equipment to clean gear and new tools to help firefighters become efficient and protected while doing their jobs.
