CDC Launches Firefighter Cancer Tracker: Heroes Needed for Data Duty
Published Date: 2/24/2026
Notice
Summary
The CDC wants to create a voluntary National Firefighter Registry to track firefighters’ health and work info to study cancer risks. Firefighters and related groups are invited to share their thoughts by April 27, 2026. This effort aims to help protect firefighters without adding extra paperwork or costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Voluntary National Firefighter Cancer Registry
You (U.S. firefighters) can join a voluntary National Firefighter Registry (NFR) that will collect health and work information to determine cancer incidence. The NFR is authorized by law and has been reauthorized through 2028; results will be used to help decision makers devise policies to lessen cancer risk and improve early detection. There are no costs to respondents other than their time to participate.
Department Records Assistance: 16-Hour Requests
Each year, CDC estimates that about 30 firefighters may be asked to assist with department records requests, with an average of 960 minutes (16 hours) per request. The total annualized burden for these records-request activities is 480 hours.
Enrollment Time: 30 Minutes Per Firefighter
If you enroll in the NFR, you will complete three items: an Informed Consent (5 minutes), an NFR User Profile (5 minutes), and an Enrollment Questionnaire (20 minutes), totaling about 30 minutes. CDC estimates 33,333 U.S. firefighters will complete each of those forms and reports a total annualized burden of 17,157 hours across all respondents.
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