OCFA brandweeders Under hundreds, the research health effects of Eaton and Palisades help

Cypress, California (KABC) – A fire brigade captain at the Orange County Fire Authority that has survived cancer has collaborated with the University of Arizona and other partners to investigate the effects of exposure to carcinogenic substances and other toxins to firefighters during the Eaton and Palisades fire brigade.

As a captain at the OCFA, it is the task of Derek Biering to guarantee the safety of his crew. Nowadays, he is well aware of the dangers that firefighters face looking further than what is in sight.

Lung cancer shocked him in 2020. Part of his right lobes were surgically removed.

“Never thought that would happen at this age, you know, I thought I might have thought in my retirement years,” said Biering.

Instead it happened then capt. Biering 45 was, with a nine -year -old son.

Although he could not determine the cause, he knew he was not a smoker and had his suspicions.

“At that time I had 25 years of expansions in the fire brigade and it was a lot different, you know, when I started,” said Biering.

Biering used to get one set of turnout.

“You know, we have this bad stuff and we would wash it away with a garden hose,” explained beer.

Karcinogens remained in the fibers.

Since then, a new policy has been implemented to keep carcinogens and other toxins from fire brigade homes. Nowadays, for example, the turnout are professionally washed.

“A part of the cultural change that we have applied is to implement new policy and one of the things is having this ‘clean zone’, so we have these signs here those memories are, you know, who just don’t bring your dirty things in here,” Capt Caps. Beering while he pointed to the paper reminder posted on the door to the door of his station to the living quarter of the station.

While fighting forest fires, a controlled environment is almost impossible.

Although a firefighter can have an Ademmmasker, known as a self -contained breathing device or SCBA, tanks cannot hold enough air for the long hours required for burning like what we saw with the Eaton and Palisades.

Capt. Biering collaborated with the University of Arizona and other partners for a 30-year-old, risky study with the aim of keeping track of how exposure during Wildland and Urban Interface, or Wui, burns the risk of cancer and other diseases.

Professor Jeff Burgess at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health leads the research on the basis of questions and suggestions that firefighters have made.

Testing urine and blood samples is underway for hundreds of firefighters from the entire Nation-85 at the OCFA.

“We know that a wui-fire has extra toxicity that goes beyond the regular day after day that the OCFA fire winkers are fighting. We are worried that the urban fire in the LA area can lead to even higher exposures and worse effects. So it has the potential to be similar, or otherwise, but perhaps just as serious said.

Past Capt from January. Biering Five years of cancer -free and he continues to use his experience to bring awareness.

“I am very blessed to get back to work. I want to be trained more for myself and be able to train other people,” Capt said. Biering.

Laboratory results of the samples that were taken immediately after the Eaton and Palisades fires on acute exposure to heavy metals and carcinogens were expected in March or early April.