EDMONTON - Alberta is doing more to help firefighters who develop cancer on the job.

The province says firefighters will now automatically be eligible for Workers' Compensation Board coverage if they contract cancer of the esophagus or testicles.

The addition means Alberta firefighters are covered for ten different types of cancer.

The Alberta Firefighters Association says the cancer rate among firefighters is up to fives times higher than the general population.

The higher rate is because of the toxins and cancer-causing substances they breath in while fighting building fires.

Similar legislation exists in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

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• Alberta firefighters recieve additional cancer coverage

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