File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Victor Kaisar

Occupational Cancer

Firefighters’ union, family of former Kamloops fire chief welcome expanded cancer compensation coverage

Mar 11, 2026 | 5:31 PM

KAMLOOPS — The family of a former Kamloops fire chief as well as the union that represents current firefighters welcomes a move by the provincial government, which recently expanded its compensation coverage for firefighters by adding eight cancers to the list of eligible illnesses.

With the addition of eight new cancers – including skin cancer, mesothelioma, soft-tissue sarcoma and pharynx cancers – to the list, the government says B.C. is now the most comprehensively covered province with 26 different types of cancers now deemed eligible illnesses.

If a firefighter develops one of the listed cancers after a certain amount of time on the job, the cancer is presumed to be work-related. That firefighter is then automatically eligible for workers compensation benefits without having to prove the cancer is work-related.

Former Kamloops fire chief Neill Moroz lost his battle to a rare form of cancer in February this year. His family told CFJC Today Wednesday (March 11) they’re pleased to see the province move to cover additional cancers.

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“My happiness is that we’re looking out to protect the people who protect our community,” Derek Moroz, Neill’s son, said. “Unfortunately, some first responders give their all and when that happens, there are a lot of people who are left behind, and they need to be taken care of, too.”

Firefighters in Canada face significantly higher rates of developing cancer as a result of their work. According to the province, while firefighters represent only 0.5 per cent of the provincial workforce, they accounted for 35 per cent of all accepted cancer claims at WorkSafeBC between 2010 and 2025.

Recent studies have also found occupational cancer accounted for nearly 85 per cent of firefighter deaths in Canada. Data also shows that firefighters are nine per cent more likely to be diagnosed by cancer and 14 per cent more likely to succumb to the disease.

“We know it’s proven that occupational cancer is coming and we do what we can on scene to help with the decontamination process and stuff, but really the golden ticket is a mandatory prevention program where we can get advanced screening and early detection,” Jeremy Brodtrick, the IAFF Local 913 president, told CFJC Today.

Because Neill’s diagnosis last year was deemed an occupational cancer, it was covered as a WorkSafeBC claim. It meant the Moroz family had a number of supports available to them during one of the most difficult times of their lives. It allowed them to focus on Neill’s care without having to worry about costs or whether the treatment or the drugs would be covered.

“The fact he passed so early in life without any potential for my mum, it takes care of her forever, and that is where were need to focus on,” Derek added, noting his father was the primary breadwinner for the family. “There are still people around who are suffering and they that need that support forever, and that is what this legislation does.”

The Kamloops firefighters union welcomes the expanded changes – which also reduced the waiting period for existing esophageal cancer from 20 years to 15 years – saying it means firefighters can get coverage for occupational cancers sooner. However, they also say more needs to be done around prevention of cancers

“For a firefighter who starts their career at 25, the presumptive illness under WorkSafe legislation is great, but I might have to work 10, 15, 20 years before I’m eligible for any kind of early screening and, by that time, cancer may have grown to the point where its not treatable,” Brodtrick added.

He also told CFJC that firefighter unions across Canada are hoping to see the waiting period for coverage dropped to as low as two years, as is done in some American communities.

“We have various different cancers that are covered anywhere from 5, 10, 15, 20 years of service before you qualify,” Brodtrick said. “We’re starting to see these claims rise. A stage-four cancer claim treatment costs around $475,000. It’s 10.9 times more expensive than a stage-one or -two claim so if we can start getting that early detection, the return on investment is going to be massive.”

Derek Moroz followed in his father’s footsteps and joined Kamloops Fire Rescue in 2009. He retired after 13 years of service, and while he could still develop an occupational cancer, he says he doesn’t qualify for some coverage, even though he’s at a higher risk.

“During my career, the progressive thought of health increased in the form of annual checkups for firefighters and screening for multiple diseases like cancer and heart disease where the rates within a fire department are significantly higher than the average population,” Derek said.

“They’re getting better every day both with screening to find these things early but also providing better procedures and better equipment to protect firefighters while they’re doing the job we need them to do in the community.”