A new research effort is investigating how occupational exposures may increase cancer risk among California firefighters.

On Tuesday, the Governor’s Office announced the major new effort, led by the University of California Los Angeles and UC Davis, in collaboration with Cal Fire.

The project, a sub-study of the California Firefighter Cancer Research Study, or CAFF-CRS, is backed by nearly $9.7 million in funding from Cal Fire and will include 3,500 firefighters from departments across the state over a two-year period.

The research team is guided by a firefighter advisory board to ensure the study remains grounded in real-world needs and priorities.

“This research underscores Cal Fire’s commitment to protecting firefighter health through science, innovation, and partnership,” said Cal Fire Director Chief Joe Tyler.

The study will analyze how exposures on the fireground, especially during significant events, may drive changes in the body that contribute to cancer risk over time. 

A specific area of focus will compare exposures and biological changes in firefighters who responded to the Eaton and Palisades fires in Los Angeles with those who did not.

Funding partners are Cal Fire and the University of California Office of the President.

This research is part of a broader, multi-agency effort to protect the health of those who protect our communities. 

By better understanding the relationship between biomarkers of exposure such as heavy metals and biomarkers of effect such as epigenetic alterations, transcriptomics, and markers of inflammation and immune dysfunction, the team hopes to pave the way for new prevention and intervention strategies for firefighters nationwide.