Three retired New York City firefighters who worked at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks died of cancer on Monday within only hours of each other.
Lt. Howard Bischoff, 58, and firefighters Robert Leaver, 56, and Daniel Heglund, 58, passed away Monday, adding to the hundreds of first responders who have gotten cancer since the 2001 attacks, a local NBC affiliate reported.
Their deaths are “a painful reminder that 13 years later we continue to pay a terrible price for the department’s heroic efforts,” Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said in a statement.
Thousands of people who aided in the 2001 rescue were diagnosed with respiratory ailments and other health problems in the years after the attacks. Doctors and researchers are still uncertain, however, if there is a link between the recovery efforts and cancer, the station reported.
“On that day when first responders arrived, the air was toxic and remained toxic for many months afterward,” said Jake Lemonda, president of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association.
Mr. Lemonda said fire officials knew the three men were sick before they died. One reportedly had leukemia, one had esophageal cancer and the other had colon cancer.
Funerals for Mr. Leaver and Mr. Heglund were scheduled for Friday in New York. A funeral for Lt. Bischoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Aloysius Church in Jackson, New Jersey, the station reported.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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