IRVINE, Calif. — January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month. According to federal data, firefighters have a 9% higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer compared to the general U.S. population and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer.

The Orange County Fire Authority has started to offer all of its firefighters a blood screening test that tests for 50 different cancers. The union representing the firefighters, Orange County Professional Firefighters Association Local 3631, says the blood test will be available throughout a firefighter’s career, and won’t be a one-time thing.

During a kickoff event in November 2023, the union partnered with Hoag and Grail to offer the test to OCFA firefighters. More than 200 firefighters signed up to participate in the two-day event.