National Smokejumper Association

Expanded federal benefits for families of wildland firefighters killed or permanently disabled by certain cancers

Posted: February 15, 2026

On December 18, 2025, the President signed the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, a bipartisan measure expanding federal benefits for families of wildland firefighters killed or permanently disabled by certain cancers.

The law applies retroactively to cases from January 1, 2020, onward and treats these cancers as job-related under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program.

Cancers Covered Include: Bladder, brain, breast, cervical, colon/colorectal, esophageal, kidney, leukemia, lung, melanoma, mesothelioma, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, ovarian, prostate, skin, stomach, testicular, and thyroid.

 Qualifications:

• At least 5 years of service before diagnosis.
• Diagnosis within 15 years of last active service.

 Claims must be filed within 3 years of the date of death OR by December 18, 2028.

 Please share with anyone who may be affected.