Photo courtesy of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
”Keep Fighting” is an exclusive CRACKYL content series from the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) aimed at educating the fire service through first-hand accounts.
In July 2020, Clay Westfall, a 49-year-old lieutenant of Harrison Township Fire Department in Dayton, Ohio, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. One month later, Mike Paidar, a 53-year-old captain of the St. Paul Fire Department in Minnesota, succumbed to a rare form of acute myeloid leukemia.
“My husband always said he would die from cancer before he died in a fire,” said Cyndi Westfall of her late husband, Clay. “I would always blow him off because I wasn’t aware of the cancer risks before he was diagnosed. And even when he was diagnosed, I didn’t put two and two together.”
A Silent Threat … And a Hard-Fought Victory
According to the NFFF, the leading cause of death for its upcoming slate of 2026 Memorial Weekend honorees is cancer-related illness. Various cancers — from kidney to skin to colorectal — continue to be more prevalent for firefighters, and are claiming the lives of our nation’s bravest.
“Until we get all of this cancer eradicated, we know there will be other families, and it’s really important to us that those who travel this road have an easier time than we did,” said Julie Paidar, wife of Mike.
Until recently, many occupational cancers were not covered under the federal Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program, leaving survivors not only grieving, but without benefits to ease the financial burdens that come with a line-of-duty death.
Thankfully, as a result of tireless advocacy from Fire Hero Family members like Westfall and Paidar, that has changed.
The December 2025 passage of the bipartisan Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act — part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) — brings recognition that cancer is a line-of-duty threat, and much-needed benefits to those suffering in the wake of it.
Navigating Benefits, Finding Support
The Honor Act isn’t the end of their fight. It’s the start of a new one, focused on amplifying awareness of cancer risks and making sure other Fire Hero Families know where to turn for support.
“We all worked together for a common cause, and that cause was to make things better for those that come after us,” Paidar said.
They don’t have to go at it alone. Fire departments (career and volunteer), state and national fire service organizations, and other firefighter-focused initiatives can help promote what benefits are available — and how to apply — now that the Honor Act has become law.
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) has established Local Assistance State Teams to help families navigate what can be a confusing application system at one of the hardest times in their lives.
Formal recognition unlocks more than just federal benefits. It means access to lifetime peer support, counseling, scholarships, and programs designed to help Fire Hero Families build new paths forward.
“You already have to deal with the heartache of losing someone,” Paidar said. “This (assistance) will make things easier for families, and as (the PSOB claim process) improves, it’ll be one less thing to worry about.”
A Shared Responsibility
This isn’t a tomorrow problem. Firefighters can address cancer risks today.
Call to schedule an appointment — and keep it — for your annual physical. Make your physicians aware of your profession so they can suggest the right screenings at the appropriate times.
Enroll in the voluntary NIOSH Firefighter Cancer Registry, our profession’s most ambitious effort to track cancer outcomes and the disease’s connections to our work.
Bring your families into the fold. Be open about the occupational risks and connect with cancer-focused organizations like the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, so your loved ones can help make prevention a group effort.
Firehouses can connect their crews to trainings, toolkits, and other resources offered by the First Responder Center for Excellence (FRCE), an affiliate of the NFFF. Encourage volunteerism and encourage open conversation, together as a team.
The Work Ahead
Fire Hero Families — along with fire service organizations and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle — have brought long-awaited support to the families of the fallen, like Clay Westfall and Mike Paidar.
This is big step forward, but it doesn’t alleviate the threat. There are no easy answers.
However, by committing to cancer awareness, support, and prevention, we can make meaningful, lasting progress. Let’s own the responsibility. By doing so, we pay tribute our fallen colleagues, and we honor the experiences and incredible efforts of our Fire Hero Families.
Victor Stagnaro is the chief executive officer of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF).
*To learn more about the work of NFFF, visit www.firehero.org.*
