LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The month of January is Firefighter Occupational Cancer Awareness month, a time to shine a light on the unseen risks that come with being a firefighter. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), cancer is a leading cause of death among firefighters, compared to the general population. Last year nearly 72% of the names added to the fallen firefighter wall, a national memorial in Colorado Springs, were due to occupational cancer.