An engine foreman for the U.S. Forest Service had a seizure out of the blue last year that led to the discovery of a brain tumor. With recent developments at the Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP), he was able to get his medical expenses covered.
This coverage comes from the 2022 adoption of a list of “presumptive illnesses,” medical conditions which now OWCP presumes come from employment as a firefighter.
To learn a little about these developments, read this firefighter’s story and the lessons he wants to share with his fellow federal firefighters, click the link below.
Read more here: Presumptive Illness for Federal Wildland Firefighters
Now if they would only cover other ailments and issues, like knees, back injuries, Shoulders, etc…
Interesting since there’s a fair number of us with brain tumors popping up…
Being mandatorily exposed to chemicals that pierce the blood brain barrier is never a good thing…
I wonder if an AD firefighter would be covered?
AD coverage is no different from full-time employees
The legislation is specific about coverage for firefighters and medical resources. We know overhead resources are often exposed to air contaminated with smoke, CO, and other pollutants, sometimes at higher levels and greater duration than fireline resources. Are they covered under the new presumptive illness legislation, or is this yet TBD via the legal or other processes?