The Coral Springs City Commission on Jan. 15 proclaimed January 2025 as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month and held a series of recognitions highlighting firefighter cancer prevention, behavioral-health support for first responders and safety innovations.

The proclamation followed remarks from Fire Chief John Whalen, who described occupational cancer as a leading cause of line-of-duty deaths for firefighters and noted local losses, including firefighter-paramedic Nate Leonard. "Cancer, in the fire service is a is a serious issue," Chief John Whalen said, and he described the department's efforts on clean gear, clean cabs and other injury- and exposure-reduction steps.

The commission also recognized Division Chief Christopher Bader with the Gene Coker Honorary Chaplain Award from the Public Safety Chaplaincy and the 2024 Humanitarian Award from the Fire Chiefs Association of Broward County. Division Chief Christopher Bader said of the recognition, "Just, really humbled, but like everything, it's a team effort." He noted expanded state funding for first-responder behavioral-health programs: "This year, the CFO has dedicated another $3,600,000 into the annual budget for first responder organizations throughout the state of Florida to build out their responder organizations."

Dr. Natasha Saleh of the University of Miami, a partner in firefighter research and screening, told the commission the city has been a long-time partner in outreach and research. "Not many people know about the cancer risk of firefighters," she said, noting the department's participation in screening and prevention work over a decade.

The commission accepted two awards from the Florida Municipal Insurance Trust (FMIT). FMIT cited Coral Springs for an innovation partnership award recognizing the city's steps to manage risks from electric-vehicle battery fires; the city has placed EV fire blankets in high-risk locations such as parking garages and public-safety vehicle storage areas. FMIT also awarded the city a Safety Excellence Initiative (SEI) gold-level recognition for police and fire safety-management processes.

City leaders and presenters emphasized the ceremonial recognition's role in broader prevention, research and peer support efforts rather than a new ordinance or budget change. The proclamations and awards were presented during the commission meeting; the commission signed the firefighter cancer proclamation for January 2025.

Looking ahead, speakers encouraged continued partnerships with the University of Miami, the International Association of Fire Fighters and local agencies to expand early-detection and behavioral-health programs for first responders.