LPFD Firefighter Dies From Colon Cancer At 54, Community Rallies In Support

PLEASANTON, CA — The Tri-Valley community is rallying behind the family of Joe Fields, a retired firefighter for the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department who passed away on Oct. 22 at 54 due to colon cancer.

Fields served with LPFD from 2001 to 2022 before taking a medical retirement due to service-related complications, according to a GoFundMe set up in his memory. In 2023, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer and fought "valiantly and stoically."

A GoFundMe account is aiming to raise $20,000 for his wife and four children. As of Tuesday afternoon, $17,484 has been raised.

"We mourn the passing of retired Firefighter Joe Fields. He served the communities of Livermore and Pleasanton with dedication for 21 years before medically retiring in 2022 due to service-related complications," Livermore Pleasanton Firefighters Local 1974 said in a statement. "Please share messages of support for Joe, his wife, and his children. Joe’s family has arranged a GoFundMe should you wish to provide any financial support. We thank the community for the support during this very difficult time."

Firefighting is widely recognized as an occupation with heightened health risks, including increased exposure to numerous toxic chemicals and numerous physical and psychological stressors. According to a 2023 meta-analysis from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, firefighters face a 19% higher risk of colon cancer and a 36% higher risk of melanoma compared to the general population. Another study from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that 45% of on-duty deaths among U.S. firefighters were due to coronary heart disease.