For volunteer firefighters, the dangers of keeping their
communities safe extend beyond the scene of an emergency, and legislation
passed by Assemblymember Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, will ensure they’re
protected down the road (A.6242).
“Volunteer firefighters are selfless and vigilant members of
our local communities who are deeply invested in the areas they serve,” Russell
said. “These men and women put themselves in harm’s way whenever they arrive at
the scene of an emergency, and I believe we owe it to them to give them
protection down the road.”
The legislation, signed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo today, will
require insurance companies to presume that certain cancers are the direct
result of firefighters serving their communities. Firefighters have a higher
rate of lung disabilities and related illnesses than the general population due
to their exposure to the chemicals released in fires. Without this legislation,
which extends the presumption until 2020, volunteer firefighters will be left
to deal with the risks and harm on their own.
“Without volunteer firefighters the majority of our
communities would be helpless in the face of emergencies,” Russell said. “This
legislation is a no-brainer and I’m proud to stand with my colleagues on both
sides of the aisle in the state legislature to support it.”