Mission Statement: The goal of this best practices manual is to encourage safe and healthy practices from the first day as a fire fighter to retirement. A career in the fire service exposes fire fighters to deadly carcinogens at every fire. This manual identifies the best practices that reduce fire fighter risk of exposure to carcinogens. Cancer may never be eliminated from the fire service, but steps must be taken to reduce the number of fire fighters being diagnosed and dying every year. Common sense practices, equipment and guidelines are all components of these best practices. Funding: Funding and support for this project has been provided by the State of Washington, Department of Labor & Industries, Safety & Health Investment Projects. TABLE OF CONTENTS