The Phoenix Project 780

05/19/2026

Sometimes, pulling off a surprise is actually doable. And last night, on Monday May 18th, we were able to pull off a good one…

Just outside of Rocky Mount, N.C., you will find the small town of Battleboro. Located in Nash County, the Battleboro Community Volunteer Fire Department has a mix of 31 volunteer and paid firefighters that respond to just under 5,000 citizens while covering roughly 17 square miles. A few months ago, B.F.D. applied for the Phoenix Rising Initiative. In March, their board stepped up their commitment to ensuring firefighter safety by implementing a decontamination policy, which opened the door for us to be able to donate mitigation supplies to their department.

Last night, Battleboro Fire Department received the monthly Phoenix Rising Grant for May 2026. The fire department, chartered on May 16, 1948, has never had the ability to wash turnout gear unless it involved scrubbing it by hand or transporting dirty gear to a neighboring department. 78 years as a department. Of serving the citizens of Nash County. Of showing up in the worst of times. And last night, we were able to show up for them and surprise them with the news that we are donating an extractor to their department. We are so thankful to once again be working with AEST Inc. as we move forward with this project and cannot wait for the extractor to be installed. Having access to an extractor is crucial for firefighters to be able to safely and effectively clean their gear of the carcinogens and contaminates they encounter on calls.

The donation, valued at $10,000.00, includes a Circul-Air Express 22lb Soft Mount Commercial Grade Extractor, a wiring harness with an automatic dosing pump, 112 Responder Wipes, 7.25 gallons of CitriSqueeze turn out gear cleaner, 1.25 gallons of SC-14 equipment cleaner, 40 gear transport garbage bags, 300 protective gloves, 3 rolls of duct tape, 2 bottles of Responder Charcoal Body Wash, and replacement hose for the extractor. Thanks to those of you who donated towards the install, we were also able to cover all the additional hook-up costs that were needed to complete the installation.

It felt very fitting to make this donation in memory of Chief James “Eddie” Hardee Jr. Chief Hardee became involved in fire services as a teenager when his father helped establish the Battleboro Fire Department. He went on to spent more than 49 years in fire services, serving 42 of those years as the fire chief for Battleboro Fire Department, then serving as the board president. Saying the department was a part of him would truly be an understatement. Chief Hardee passed away at the age of 68, less than 4 weeks after his diagnosis with pancreatic cancer.

I know it is said all the time, but we could not do the work we do without the support of others! For every merch purchase, donation, share/like, in-kind supply donation, corporate sponsorship- THANK YOU! Truly, we couldn’t do it without you! If you would like to support our mission by donating or purchasing merch, you can do that through the website or send us a message here on FB and we can get you squared away! If your department is interested in applying for a Phoenix Rising grant, the application can be found on our website.

05/14/2026

It’s always a fun day to get a surprise delivery from Thin Red Line Decon!! We are so thankful for their continued support of our mission. TRLD is where we get all of our responder wipes & our charcoal wash from… you can buy it for personal use or departmental use and they will ship it straight to you. Go see them & tell them we sent you 😉
https://thinredlinedecon.com/

05/10/2026

Today was year 4… felt fitting to spend the day at the NC Fallen Firefighter Memorial as 12 names were added to the wall, several of which had occupational cancer.

05/07/2026

When I started this "project" two and a half years ago, I never dreamed it would be bigger than something that was local and I figured it would only be relevant for a few weeks at most. Watching the direction and role that we have moved into has been such a journey. Last month, I received an email, and then a phone call, that really confirmed we are making a difference.

I would never have expected to hear from Dr. Fent, the one running the NFR (National Firefighter Registry for Cancer) through the CDC & NIOSH (Center for Disease Control & National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) but I did. He'd heard mention of us and wanted to hear firsthand what we are doing, together, to help those in the fire service. To be able to tell him that we are able to put mitigation supplies in the hands of firefighters and extractors in departments, while simultaneously having the hard conversations about the reality of cancer with those same firefighters, was humbling. Those same firefighters that we are reaching are listening, and they are advocating for their health, and it shows in our cancer cohort study. To those of you who are firefighters and are participating in the study at the state and/or national level, they see you. To those of you who support us and allow us to go into departments to have these conversations and show them the support we do, they see you too.

I am extremely proud of our state, of our cancer study, and of the incredible team behind it. I am also extremely proud to say that The Phoenix Project 780 has been recognized as a national champion for our efforts in reducing occupational cancer within the fire services.

Thanks to each of you who stands with us, supports us, and allows us to do the work we do... we couldn't do it without you. I hope you share in the pride of this recognition.

Just as an FYI, here is some interesting data the studies have found and some of the ongoing research being conducted:
• 31.4% of firefighters with cancer are under the age of 44
• Skin cancer is the #1 cancer diagnosis, followed by prostate, thyroid, and kidney cancer
• Firefighters who donate plasma have substantially lower PFAS levels than those who have never donated
• People who drink bottled water have ~15% lower PHS levels
• People who use well water have ~15% higher PFOA levels than those on municipal water
• Over 400 stations across the state had their well water tested and a handful were identified for high levels of PFAS, likely reflective of AFFF
*If your department was one of these stations, your chief was notified immediately
• Turnout gear is being tested to compare BFRs and PFAS levels
• Fire departments are having air samples taken and analyzed
• Studies are being conducted on the best ways to launder turnout gear

The research throughout this study is incredible and would not be possible without the cooperation of the fire departments and the firefighters who serve our communities. For those of you involved in the study, thank you for leading the way.

To find out more about the NC Firefighter Cancer Study:
https://sites.duke.edu/ncffccs/

To find out more about the National Firefighter Registry:
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/firefighters/registry/index.html
(we have been listed as one of the national champions on their page)

05/06/2026

You go on a fire. You breathe in some junk. You go home. Maybe you get cancer, maybe not. Nothing to it, right? You are a firefighter... that's what is expected. When I hear that logic, it literally stops me in my tracks.

Ever wonder what the exposure to chemicals and heavy metals from those calls do to your body? How do they impact and increase cancer risks? Are there certain levels in your blood that you should be aware of?

Lucky for you, there is a study that actually LOOKS at the blood of firefighters to evaluate how those exposures impact them... there is actually more than one of them. I have the honor of serving on the board for the North Carolina Firefighter Cancer Cohort Study, led by Dr. Heather Stapleton and Dr. Bryan Ormond. The NC FFCCS utilizes researchers from the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment, the Duke Cancer Institute, and the NC State University Wilson College of Textiles to tackle the issues of cancer risk among firefighters based on their exposures to harmful chemicals and what role their gear plays in that. This study partners with the National Firefighter Cancer Cohort Study and gives the fire community a much larger picture of what is happening within fire services. The goal is to set new standards for safety and health in the fire service while fostering a future where every firefighter can serve with confidence knowing their well-being is prioritized.

If you would like to participate in this study, it is open to all firefighters, volunteer and paid, old and new, male and female. Everyone matters. And participation is simple- complete a survey, provide a blood and urine sample, maybe wear a silicone wristband, and then be open for follow up every 18-24 months. One of the perks? You get your bloodwork results sent directly to you so you can track your personal exposures and advocate for your own health with your healthcare team. Umm, yes please.

This research is life changing and is planting seeds for shade later for those in the fire service. You can visit the websites of both the NC study and the national study (or look up your state and see if they are participating) for more information.

*If you are centrally located in NC, there will be an enrollment event tonight, May 6, and on Tuesday, May 12, at the South Sailsbury Fire Department.

https://www.ffccs.org/north-carolina
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/firefighters/registry/index.html

04/26/2026

We are over 1/2 way to our $1,800 goal! If we had a few dozen people donate $10, we’d be there! If you know a firefighter that has access to an extractor, they are better off than so many others! Think about making a donation in their honor to celebrate their ability to wear clean gear!

I know- the Canes are playing but we need help.

True statement: If a department could afford one, they’d have bought one by now. Extractors aren’t cheap. If I hopped online to order a one right now, it’s $6,800 plus tax… shipping is an additional $650.

There are SO MANY departments for which this type of purchase is an unrealistic extravagance. They lay turnout gear on the floor and hand scrub it with a brush. Can you even imagine that?

When we make an extractor a reality for a department, sometimes we need to step in with extra help. Most of the older departments aren’t outfitted with water lines and electricity isn’t always run through the entire building. It’s not expected of us but leaving departments with bills to cover permits, run water lines, or redo electrical puts a sour taste in my mouth.

We are currently in the pre stages of trying to help a department that is in this situation- electric and water is going to cost an additional $1,800. If you’d like to help, you can donate through the website or through Venmo {it will be linked in the comments}. If straight donating isn’t your thing, scoop up some t-shirts, koozies, challenge coins, SPF shirts, hoodies, long sleeves, crew necks, magnets, or decals bc all proceeds from merch go towards our mission. $1800 is a high goal but every dollar adds up and helps us put a dent in it!

04/20/2026

I know- the Canes are playing but we need help.

True statement: If a department could afford one, they’d have bought one by now. Extractors aren’t cheap. If I hopped online to order a one right now, it’s $6,800 plus tax… shipping is an additional $650.

There are SO MANY departments for which this type of purchase is an unrealistic extravagance. They lay turnout gear on the floor and hand scrub it with a brush. Can you even imagine that?

When we make an extractor a reality for a department, sometimes we need to step in with extra help. Most of the older departments aren’t outfitted with water lines and electricity isn’t always run through the entire building. It’s not expected of us but leaving departments with bills to cover permits, run water lines, or redo electrical puts a sour taste in my mouth.

We are currently in the pre stages of trying to help a department that is in this situation- electric and water is going to cost an additional $1,800. If you’d like to help, you can donate through the website or through Venmo {it will be linked in the comments}. If straight donating isn’t your thing, scoop up some t-shirts, koozies, challenge coins, SPF shirts, hoodies, long sleeves, crew necks, magnets, or decals bc all proceeds from merch go towards our mission. $1800 is a high goal but every dollar adds up and helps us put a dent in it!

04/15/2026

I know- it’s been a bit since we did one of these but sometimes, we need to sit and be still. Working with rural departments, there seems to be hidden obstacles everywhere and we must take our time working through them to make sure we are leaving departments set up for success. To do that, lots of questions must be answered. Sometimes they are simple… do you have a decontamination policy? Can you implement one? Other times they are a little bigger… do you have a waterline hookup for an extractor? Do you have a power source in that area? What kind of permits will we need? Who is a reputable contractor in your area? Over the last 3 months, we have been addressing these questions for several departments. No good can come from donating an extractor and then leaving an agency with a hefty bill to go along with it, so we step in and handle it. We did not make a formal Phoenix Rising Grant post during the first quarter because we needed to focus on making sure we were doing right by our mission, our departments, and those who support the Phoenix Project as a whole. I can assure you our vision is still clear, and we are still working to make a difference in the lives of firefighters.

That said, we are back at it! Yesterday, we headed west and landed in Davie County, N.C. to present Smith Grove Fire & Rescue with the Phoenix Rising Initiative donation for April 2026. Established in 1974, the Smith Grove Fire Department responds to around 1,500 calls per year while serving the 8,600 citizens residing in their district. Their district covers approximately 24 square miles, including 20 miles of Interstate 40, which has secured them with the nickname The Interstate Junkies. SGFD is a mixture of 32 paid and volunteer firefighters.

Smith Grove Fire Department received 1.25 gallons of CitroSqueeze turnout gear cleaner, 1.25 gallons of SC-14 equipment cleaner, 96 responder wipes, two bottles of charcoal body wash, 300 protective gloves, a case of plastic gear transportation bags, and 3 rolls of duct tape. This donation, valued at $600.00, allows us to provide departments and firefighters with supplies that are crucial for proper decontamination practices after a fire. By utilizing supplies specifically designed to help mitigate the carcinogens responders encounter on calls, departments can decontaminate equipment, gear, and their personnel while establishing repeatable patterns of preventative measures.

This donation was made in memory of Lieutenant Clay Westfall. Lt. Westfall lived a servants life spending 31 years in fire services. He started as a volunteer with the Casstown Community Volunteer Fire Department in Casstown, Ohio and was an 18-year career firefighter with Harrison Township Fire Department in Dayton, Ohio. Lt. Westfall began suffering from excruciating back pain and was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer on April 14, 2020. He passed away at the age of 49, just three months after his diagnosis. This donation was made on the 6-year anniversary of his diagnosis.

We say it all the time, but we could not do the work we do without the support of others! For every merch purchase, donation, share/like, in-kind supply donation, corporate sponsorship- THANK YOU! Truly, we couldn’t do it without you! If you would like to support our mission by donating or purchasing merch, you can do that through the website or send us a message here on FB and we can get you squared away! If your department is interested in applying for a Phoenix Rising grant, the application can be found on our website.

04/13/2026

These warmer days… anyone else here for it?!? The beach, golf, fishing, a ball field, the lake, hikes- whatever you fancy for outdoor adventures, we’ve got you covered with our light weight SPF 50 long sleeve shirts! These have sold out the last 2 times we have ordered and we have quite a few events coming up so if you want one, you might want to think about grabbing it now! We’ve also got a wide variety of in stock traditional shirts, too!

The SPF’s aren’t available on the website because we sell out EVERY TIME we order them!! Long sleeve SPF 50, $28 plus tax & shipping.
Red: medium through 3XL
Orange: medium and large
Coral: medium through 3XL
Yellow: medium, large, extra large *NEW COLOR* Heathered gray: small, XL, 2XL, 3XL
Gray: medium and large
Sand: small through 3XL *NEW COLOR*
Turquoise: medium through 2XL *NEW COLOR*
Bimini Blue: medium through 2XL *NEW COLOR*
Mint: medium through 3XL
Light blue: large *not pictured*

Traditional t’s:
Gray: small through 4X in all styles
Red: small through 4X in all styles except long sleeve which is available in small through 2XL
Pink: short sleeve small and 3XL
Blue: short sleeve medium through 3XL
Green: short sleeve XS through 4X and hoodies small through 2XL
Coyote Brown: short sleeve medium through 2XL
Short sleeve $20, long sleeve $25, crew neck $30, hoodies $35 plus tax and shipping

02/04/2026

For first responder family members, the fear of a loved one never coming home is real. That reality of a sudden loss can be true for anyone. An accident. A long term illness. Either can happen to anyone. Most people don’t think about how to be prepared just in case something happens. People become comfortable in the thought process that things like that happen somewhere else. Not in our state. Not our town. Not our department. Not our house.

If something happened to you or a loved one, would someone know where important documents are? Have you had the conversations about life support? About power of attorney? If you need help getting your “things” together, The Phoenix Folder is a great starting place as you work through.

Would your family be prepared if something happened to you today? For first responder family members, the fear of a loved one never coming home is real and is something that is thought about every single day. Most people don’t think about how to be prepared just in case something happens. People b...

01/28/2026

Firefighters are diagnosed with cancer more frequently than the public due to elevated cancer risks from repeated exposures to the smoke, toxins, and carcinogens they encounter on calls. One of the most overlooked elements in cancer prevention is what you can do after the fire.

In part three, we take a look at some of the repeatable patterns you can do after a fire to help reduce the risk.

Clean Gear. Clean Body. Clean Cab. Firefighters are diagnosed with cancer more frequently than the public due to elevated cancer risks from repeated exposures to the smoke, toxins, and carcinogens they encounter on calls. One of the most overlooked elements in cancer prevention is what you can do