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Meghan Paidar's bright blue eyes sparkled as she spoke about her dad, Mike Paidar, recalling that he was known for his big smile and wonderful sense of humor.

“He was somebody that everybody always wanted to be around,” she said.

Mike Paidar, a captain in the St. Paul Fire Department, died in August 2020, six months after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of 

, a rare cancer affecting bone marrow and blood. His diagnosis was linked to exposure to toxic chemicals encountered during his work.

Last week, the U.S. Senate passed and signed into law the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, which is part of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. This new legislation expands access to federal benefits for the families of firefighters and other first responders who have died or become permanently disabled due to cancers related to occupational exposure.

Introduced by U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in honor of Captain Mike Paidar, the bill garnered strong bipartisan support.

Currently, firefighters and other first responders are only eligible for support through the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits program, which provides cash benefits for physical injuries incurred while on duty. This support also extends to deaths resulting from duty-related heart attacks, strokes, mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder and illnesses related to the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

In 2021, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety awarded benefits to Captain Paidar’s widow, Julie. This was the first instance where the family of a firefighter received benefits for cancer related to their line of duty through the Public Safety Benefits Program. 

The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act now guarantees that firefighters nationwide are eligible for similar benefits under the federal program, removing a significant barrier for surviving family members. Previously, families were required to identify specific incidents that led to the cancer, which was nearly impossible due to the nature of firefighting work.

“Mike truly loved being a firefighter. The passing of the bill gives a lot of families a sense of hope,” Julie Paidar said.

Firefighters are exposed to various carcinogenic combustion products found in residential and commercial buildings through inhalation or skin contact. These hazardous materials include liquids, gases and particulate matter generated by fires, according to the 

Additionally, the protective equipment that firefighters wear may contain synthetic chemicals known as polyfluoroalkyl substances. PFAS chemicals are prevalent in a wide range of products, including cleaning products, nonstick cookware and water-resistant fabrics. They can exist in high concentrations and may pose 

Firefighters face increased cancer risks due to exposure to diesel fumes from vehicles, arsenic, asbestos and other hazardous substances. Prolonged exposure to heat, smoke and toxic agents puts them at a higher risk for developing cancer compared to individuals who are not firefighters.

Kiel Kwiatkowski, a 29-year-old firefighter from St. Louis Park, has been with the fire department for eight years. He said that seeing older firefighters develop cancer has made this bill especially important for him. Kwiatkowski added that receiving support from the federal government, along with the hope that the state government will also provide assistance, means a lot to early-career firefighters.

Meghan Paidar said that after her dad passed away from occupational cancer, her family faced a great deal of uncertainty and mixed messages about what to do next, all while grappling with immense grief.

“It was frustrating and heartbreaking to experience our family losing my dad and then scrambling to figure out what to do next,” Paidar said. “He was our biggest supporter, and it’s comforting to know that other families don't have to go through all the uncertainty. They can now give their firefighter the respect they deserve.”

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Erica Zurek

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Congress is expanding federal benefits for firefighters and first responders with job-related cancer.

Firefighters spray water towards a smoking building.

St. Paul fire captain remembered as federal law expands cancer benefits for first responders

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