Comptroller Sean Scanlon today joined Connecticut fire service leaders to observe International Firefighters Day and to release the Office of the State Comptroller’s (OSC) Special Examination on Firefighters in Connecticut.

The report outlines an extensive survey conducted by OSC to assess the number of fire departments and firefighters—both career and volunteer—in Connecticut, as well as key demographic data such as age. The survey was the first of its kind, as no organization is responsible for tracking these statistics, and the most recent estimate on them was published in 2017.

In just eight years since these estimates, OSC’s survey found that the number of firefighters in Connecticut has decreased by 50%, with an alarming decline of 62.7% among volunteer forces. Offsetting that, though, the number of career firefighters increased by 6.5% in the same timeframe.

The report speculates that fewer young people are being exposed to firefighting as a career path, despite it often being accompanied by high-quality benefits and a pension. Furthermore, volunteer departments are struggling to recruit young people as the intensive, low pay-out nature of the service is not seen as practical.

“Connecticut is facing a firefighter recruitment and retention crisis, and this impacts every city and town in our state,” said Comptroller Scanlon. “This report is meant to be a call to action, and as the administrator of pensions and health insurance for thousands of firefighters, I am committed to working with the fire service and state and municipal leaders to find solutions that will keep our firefighters and our communities safe.”

“Comptroller Scanlon’s new report provides vital new information about the crisis facing the fire service. At the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection we know that more must be done to attract a new generation to firefighting,” said DESPP Commissioner Ronnell Higgins. “We are working right now with other state agencies to expand pathways into firefighting and public safety.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Fire Prevention and Control, a division of DESPP, is working closely with the statewide fire service organizations to create a strategic plan to guide the fire service as we move into the future.”

“This report highlights the responsibility we all possess to uplift the firefighting profession and ensure those who put their lives on the line are adequately compensated for the risks they take. The safety of our communities is at stake,” said Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut President Peter Brown, “UPFFA is grateful to Comptroller Scanlon for conducting this much-needed survey and his eagerness to work with our organization to find innovative solutions to the workforce crisis we are facing.

“We are seeing a significant decrease in firefighters across the state, more severe to the volunteer ranks. We recognize the need to be more proactive in recruiting and retaining emergency responders in CT. I will add that our career ranks are also becoming thin with applicants as fewer are seeking this profession as a career,” said Joint Council of Connecticut Fire Service Organizations Chairman Steven Hoffman.

“We as fire service leaders need to look at strategies and initiatives to reverse this trend to attract individuals to emergency services. The data from the recent surveys and development of a statewide fire service strategic plan will assist in setting us on a path to address this concern.”

The report concludes with recommendations to continue this data collection on a regular basis, as well as compiling a central contact directory for all of the state’s fire chiefs.

More information can be found in the complete report https://osc.ct.gov/…/2025.05-Comptroller-Firefighter…

Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has signed into law legislation making several updates to the Connecticut Firefighters Cancer Relief Program, including adding skin cancer to the types of cancer covered under the program, and modifying the language governing its eligibility to make it clear that all firefighters statewide have access to the program, regardless of whether they work for a state or municipal fire department.

The legislation is Senate Bill 1426, An Act Making Changes to the Firefighters Cancer Relief Program.

“This program was created with the understanding that firefighters have high-risk jobs and are exposed to toxins that can wreak havoc on their health and put them at risk for cancer,” Governor Lamont said. “Expanding its coverage and making it clear that all firefighters in Connecticut are eligible is the right thing to do. I appreciate lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for crafting this legislation, voting in favor of it, and sending it to my desk. I am glad to sign it into law.”

The program, which was recently created, provides workers’ compensation-like benefits to firefighters who have certain cancers and meet other criteria.

According to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, skin cancer is one of the top ten cancers that firefighters develop. Other types of cancer already covered by the program include those affecting the brain or the skeletal, digestive, endocrine, respiratory, lymphatic, reproductive, urinary, or hematological systems.

Last month, Governor Lamont and Comptroller Sean Scanlon announced that they’ve made an administrative change to the state employee health plan and Partnership Plan that will provide firefighters with free, enhanced cancer screenings every two years. These comprehensive, full-body screenings are designed to detect cancers early – often before symptoms appear – when treatment is more effective, and outcomes are significantly better. That benefit went into effect on May 1, 2025.

4/14/2025

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Comptroller Sean Scanlon today announced that effective May 1, 2025, the State of Connecticut is expanding the benefits it provides to firefighters to include free, enhanced cancer screenings.

This new benefit comes in response to evidence that firefighters, due to their repeated exposure to smoke, toxic chemicals, and carcinogens in the line of duty, have a greater prevalence of cancer diagnoses and cancer-related deaths than the general population.

More than 900 firefighters enrolled in the state employee health plan and Partnership Plan, both of which Comptroller Scanlon oversees, will now have free access to a comprehensive, full-body scan once every two years. The screenings are designed to detect cancers early – often before symptoms appear – when treatment is more effective, and outcomes are significantly better.

While expected to cost the state about $150,000 annually, the costs associated with later-stage cancers are far greater – not to mention the hardship placed on firefighters, their families, and their departments.

“Firefighters have high-risk jobs and in the course of their duties are exposed to toxins that can wreak havoc on their health and put them at risk for cancer,” Governor Lamont said. “Expanding the state health plan to provide all firefighters with regular cancer screenings is essential because early detection is key to successful treatment outcomes. I appreciate Comptroller Scanlon for working with our administration to enact this change to the state health plan and provide this benefit for Connecticut’s firefighters.”

“When they’re putting their lives on the line every day, the last thing our firefighters should have to worry about is navigating their healthcare,” Comptroller Scanlon said. “That’s why I’m proud that the state health plan I run will now provide our members with the best preventative care and early screenings. Through better early detection, we can keep the men and women who serve our communities healthy and their minds at ease. I’ve been honored to work with the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut and Governor Lamont to bring this initiative to fruition.”

“Firefighters are an essential part of keeping all Connecticut residents safe,” Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) Commissioner Ronnell A. Higgins said. “At DESPP, where we are training and recruiting the firefighters of the future, we stand behind the continuing efforts by Governor Lamont and Comptroller Scanlon to keep the men and women of the fire service healthy.”

“Unfortunately, there is growing prevalence of cancer in firefighters, but early detection saves lives, and it saves our families – by blood and by profession – immense grief and hardship,” Peter Brown, president of the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut, said. “This new healthcare offering is a critical step forward in securing firefighter health and wellbeing. UPFFA is grateful for our continued partnership with Comptroller Scanlon and Governor Lamont.”

Any firefighter enrolled on the state employee health plan or Partnership Plan who is seeking more information can visit carecompass.ct.gov to connect with a representative, schedule an appointment, and find providers in their area.

The NVFC is excited to release the following announcements. Please share with your audience.

The 2025 State Farm Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program application period will be open from June 4-6. A total of $1.5 million will be awarded to eligible volunteer fire departments – 150 departments will each receive a $10,000 grant to help purchase needed equipment. Please share the press release attached to get the word out about this opportunity!

Also, this week Anheuser-Busch produced its 100 millionth can of emergency drinking water to support disaster relief and community preparedness. This includes their partnership with the NVFC to donate clean, safe drinking water to volunteer fire departments in advance of wildfire season to help firefighters stay hydrated on the front line of emergencies. A press release is attached.

Please let me know if you have any questions on either of these initiatives.

Best,

Kimberly Quiros
Chief of Communications
National Volunteer Fire Council
712 H Street, NE, Ste. 1478
Washington, DC 20002
P: 202.887.5700
E: Kimberly@nvfc.org
www.nvfc.org

State Farm Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program

Anheuser-Busch Emergency Drinking Water