Former Manchester Fire Chief Dies of Cancer, Day After $5M Screening Plan Launched

By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org

MANCHESTER, NH — One day after $5 million effort launched to screen more than 4,000 active and retired firefighters for occupational related cancer by 2027, Manchester Fire Department announced the passing of former Fire Chief Andre Parent, age 62.

He died after a long and courageous battle with cancer, the announcement said.

"Chief Parent dedicated 36 years to the fire service with over 34 of those years proudly serving the residents of Manchester; retiring as the Chief of Department on September 1, 2022."

The department said it is still working with his family on a plan to honor his service and celebrate his life which will be available to the public later.

"Chief Parent was more than a leader—he was a mentor, a steady presence, and a true example of what it means to serve. We send our heartfelt condolences to his family and all who loved him," the department said on its Facebook page.

When he retired in 2022, the Facebook page offered a congratulatory note stating that Parent saw himself as a firefighter in chief's clothing. It indicated he saw health and safety of firefighters as his priority along with mental health programs associated with burnout.

"Chief Parent has a quiet resolve about him that sets everyone around him at ease," it said, and noted he would always say "we will get through it."

While Parent's passing has not yet been determined as a line-of-duty death by the state, in February, the state's Executive Council approved a $100,000 death benefit for the family of the late Keene Fire Lieutenant Aaron Cooper, 49.

His death, from lung cancer, was determined by the state as a line-of-duty death, qualifying his family for the benefit.

In 2023, Nashua Fire Rescue Lt. Jessica Wyman died from cancer which was considered a line-of-duty incident after 26 years of service.

Cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters according to the federal Centers for Disease Control https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/firefighters/fffipp/index.html

The U.S. Fire Administration and NIOSH’s Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program track firefighter deaths, but they do not publish a separate, state-specific count of deaths from occupationally related cancers. It has been found that firefighters are 14 percent more likely to die from cancer than the general public.

According to the US Fire Administration's Summary Incident Report (Jan 1, 1990 – Feb 10, 2026), there have been 3,991 on-duty firefighter fatalities in the U.S., with 1,861 volunteer and 1,753 career firefighters among them U.S. Fire Administration.

The cause of fatal injury data includes categories such as stress/overexertion, struck by, collapse, and other injuries, but cancer is not listed as a cause in the provided tables.

In addition to breathing burning plastics and chemicals while fighting fires, firefighters also face a threat in that the suits they wear to protect them from fire can contain PFAS a forever chemical which is also linked to cancer.

Many fire departments across the state are looking to replace the expensive suits with garments that do not have PFAS or PFOAs.

In December, the executive council approved a $2.2 million multi-cancer screening program and another $2.7 million contract for ultrasound diagnostic screening and lung scans. In 2024 the legislature passed $5 million to help with these screenings.

Gov. Kelly Ayotte, who launched the $5 million initiative, said she believes the state’s efforts at early detection for this population - among the first in the nation - will save lives and allow for early intervention.

Pursuant to that approval, on Monday, Ayotte launched the first day of testing for New Hampshire’s Firefighters First Cancer Screening Initiative. She met with public safety leaders, cancer advocates, and fire chiefs from across the state.

“We’ve lost too many of our firefighters far too young as a result of the hazards of their job,” said Ayotte. “I’m proud to launch this cancer screening pilot program today to ensure the men and women who put their lives on the line for our safety get the care they need. Early detection saves lives, and New Hampshire will continue to support our firefighters and ensure they have access to these critical screenings.”

The two-year pilot program connects current and retired full-time firefighters with cancer screening opportunities to address the growing concern of several forms of cancer linked to firefighting.

"Firefighters already risk their lives every time they answer a call,” said New Hampshire Department of Safety Commissioner Robert L. Quinn. “When that work exposes them to cancer causing hazards, supporting them isn’t just necessary - it’s the right thing to do.”

Over the initial pilot period, the state will partner with third-party testing organizations to administer cancer screening tests to all full-time or retired firefighters who choose to participate.

“We are proud to facilitate the logistics of this statewide cancer screening pilot program, with 1,203 screenings scheduled in Phase I, which begins today,” said Director Mark Wholey of the Division of Fire Standards and Training and Emergency Medical Services. “This pilot program reflects a strong partnership between the Division, the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire, and the New Hampshire Association of Fire Chiefs, ensuring the state’s $5 Million investment into firefighter wellness is streamlined to eligible firefighters throughout the program’s duration.”

Eligible participants can learn more and schedule a screening online at firefightersfirst.nh.gov.

This article first appeared on InDepthNH.org and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.