LANSING - Legislation introduced by Senator Curtis Hertel Jr. (D - 23rd District), to direct state money to help fire fighters pay for cancer treatments, was passed in January of 2015.

However, the fund has not attained enough money yet to provide workers compensation for fire fighters who have cancer from fulfilling their duties.

Firefighters constantly put their health at risk when saving lives, due to harmful exposure they are at risk of forming cancer and other diseases.

"We know that Firefighters are two to three times more likely to get certain types of cancer because of the dangerous and hazardous materials they come into contact with," Senator Hertel Jr. said.

There are 10 types of cancer that are proven more likely to affect fire fighters because of their job.

If a disease forms that is not proven to be caused by the affects of the job then the fire fighters will not be covered.

"There's skin cancers, blood cancer, lung cancer, testicular cancer all that have show to have a much more likelihood of happening because someone fights fires for a living," Senator Hertel Jr. said.

Unfortunately, the governor did not include the fund into this years budget, but Senator Hertel Jr. remains optimistic.

"We brought 300 fire fighters from around the state to the capital to push for them its important its important to their families and I think its time we stand up for them and do the right thing," Senator Hertel Jr. said.

"We need to figure out how to get this taken care of so we can take care of the people taking care of us and making sure they get the benefits and things that they need," Paramedic Firefighter Brian Pennell said.

"We can do this, I would say that if we can't then we have misplaced priorities here in Michigan," Senator Hertel Jr. said.