08/24/2026
The Fairmont Fire Department is proud to announce that we have been recognized by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as a Gold Helmet Department — the first fire department in West Virginia to achieve this distinction.
The Gold Helmet designation recognizes departments with strong participation in the National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer, a nationwide effort to collect the data researchers need to better understand the relationship between firefighting, occupational exposures, and cancer.
This recognition represents the culmination of a multifaceted initiative by the Fairmont Fire Department focused on protecting the long-term health of our firefighters. Over the course of this effort, we have:
• Developed firefighter cancer-prevention and health education programs
• Strengthened cleaning and decontamination practices to reduce occupational exposures
• Pursued grant funding and other opportunities to provide cancer and health screenings for our members
• Encouraged our firefighters to participate in this research that will benefit not only our department, but the fire service as a whole
Firefighters routinely work in environments containing carcinogens and other hazardous substances, and research has demonstrated elevated risks for certain cancers among firefighters. Reducing those risks requires more than any single policy, procedure, or piece of equipment. It requires education, prevention, early detection, and good data.
By participating in the National Firefighter Registry, our members are helping researchers better understand these occupational risks and paving the way for improved prevention strategies, protections, and working conditions for future generations of firefighters.
We are proud of our members for taking part, and we encourage fire departments throughout West Virginia and across the country to join the effort.
Read our full release on the topic here: https://www.fairmontwv.gov/m/NewsFlash/home/detail/89
