In early September, KTAR News reporter Ali Vetnar debuted a special series titled “Fighting Fires & Cancer.” It exposed the stories of Phoenix-area firefighters diagnosed with cancer, and who have been denied industrial health coverage.

In this three-part series, KTAR sat down with four valley firefighters and their families. They shared their struggles fighting various cancers in part one. In the second part, we talk to medical professionals who specialize in this area, who work to protect the firefighters both in the doctor’s office and against the system denying their claims. The cities defend their decisions and say they are following the law. The final part explored what state officials on what needs to happen at a state level to change the process.

The story did not end with the three part on-air series. KTAR offered continued coverage on the topic, including covering the cancer death of one of the firefighters profiled in the series, and the benefits denial reversal of another firefighter we interviewed. KTAR also followed each step Arizona lawmakers took throughout 2019 to enhance an existing law that is meant to protect firefighters battling occupational cancer.

In early September, KTAR News reporter Ali Vetnar debuted a special series titled &ldquo;Fighting Fires &amp; Cancer.&rdquo; It exposed the stories of Phoenix-area firefighters diagnosed with cancer, and who have been denied industrial health coverage.
In this three-part series, KTAR sat down with four valley firefighters and their families. They shared their struggles fighting various cancers in part one. In the second part, we talk to medical professionals who specialize in this area, who work to protect the firefighters both in the doctor&rsquo;s office and against the system denying their claims. The cities defend their decisions and say they are following the law. The final part explored what state officials on what needs to happen at a state level to change the process.
The story did not end with the three part on-air series. KTAR offered continued coverage on the topic, including covering the cancer death of one of the firefighters profiled in the series, and the benefits denial reversal of another firefighter we interviewed. KTAR also followed each step Arizona lawmakers took throughout 2019 to enhance an existing law that is meant to protect firefighters battling occupational cancer.

KTAR News 92.3, the largest news radio team in the state,  reporters cover the top stories and most important angles in the state of Arizona on a daily basis.

Advertisement