Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis announced plans to double funding for the state’s Firefighter Cancer Decontamination Grant Program, increasing the budget from $500,000 to $1 million to provide more fire stations with decontamination equipment that reduces cancer risks for firefighters.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis announced plans on Tuesday to double funding for the state’s Firefighter Cancer Decontamination Grant Program in the upcoming legislative session, increasing the allocation from $500,000 to $1 million.

Established in 2020, the program provides fire departments with decontamination equipment aimed at reducing exposure to carcinogens, a health risk for firefighters. During a press conference in St. Johns County, Patronis drew attention to the success of the initiative, which has distributed more than $2.4 million in grants to nearly 300 fire stations across Florida. He also noted that the program has helped provide stations with tools to reduce the cancer risks firefighters face in the line of duty.

“Firefighters have a 9 percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14 percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the average American,” Patronis said. “This program is helping reduce that risk by ensuring our first responders have access to the tools they need to protect themselves.”

If approved, the expanded funding will allow more fire stations to access decontamination technology. The program aims to equip fire departments with tools to clean gear and eliminate carcinogenic materials left behind after fires or hazardous materials incidents.

Patronis, who also serves as the state’s fire marshal, credited cooperation between state lawmakers, local governments, and organizations like the Florida Professional Firefighters Association for advancing measures aimed at safeguarding first responders’ health.

Lieutenant Justin Daly, a firefighter diagnosed with brain cancer, also spoke at the event, describing his personal experience with the disease. Daly attributed his sense of security during treatment to the state’s cancer presumptive bill, which assumes that certain cancers are work-related for firefighters, providing them with medical and financial support.

“Within 24 hours, they diagnosed me with cancer,” Daly said. “I did a quick Google search, and a sense of relief came over me. There was a life preserver. It was the cancer presumptive bill that these gentlemen worked so hard for.”

The program was developed with input from the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and fire safety experts, Patronis said during the press conference.