Goshen Fire Department loses assistant chief to cancer

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GOSHEN, Ind. - Outside the Central Fire Station in Goshen, a memorial is on display to honor Assistant Chief Bruce Nethercutt, who died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer.  

Cancer in firefighters is far too common, so departments and policymakers are working to lessen exposure to toxic chemicals.  

“We hired Bruce 26 years ago, 27 years ago,” said Goshen Fire Chief, Danny Sink.  

Nethercutt had a successful career in the Goshen Fire Department, serving as the assistant chief of the EMS division, but his career was far from over when he was diagnosed with cancer.  

“He was a wonderful man, really,” Sink said. “He was the epitome of a leader, very calm, very insightful.”

Nethercutt died from cancer Tuesday.  

“We are beginning to learn and understand more about the prevalence of cancer in the fire service,” Sink said.  

Cancer is a reality for far too many firefighters, who experience increased exposure to toxic forever chemicals called PFAS.  

“One of the waterproofing agents in our gear is PFAS, that’s a problem,” Sink said.  

So are the chemicals in firefighting foam, not to mention the fumes from fires themselves.  

“Back in the day, things that were burning in your house were made from cotton and from wool,” Sink said. “Everything today is synthetic and has chemicals.”

But a glimmer of hope: small measures are taking effect, including a new Indiana law spearheaded by State Representative Maureen Bauer. The law creates a pilot program to test the blood of 1,000 firefighters to learn and record the level of PFAS found.

“One of the issues with PFAS is it’s not a naturally occurring product,” Sink said. So, while it’s a cancer-causing agent, nobody really understands or knows what’s toxic. And I'm very excited that Representative Bauer was able to help the fire service push that through the legislature, and we can start gathering data, so we better understand what we’re dealing with when it comes to PFAS.”

The Goshen Fire Department is planning to build a new facility near the north side of the Goshen airport and hoping to break ground next summer.  

Chief Sink said the design of the facility will help mitigate the exposure to PFAS.  

Nethercutt will receive a full line-of-duty service funeral, including a procession under a Garrison flag.  

That will be Monday at 3 p.m. at River Oaks Community Church.

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