Firefighters in Sacramento will now use specialized wipes to clean smoke residue and soot from their faces and other exposed areas.
The move is an effort to reduce the risk of certain cancers.
Sacramento Fire Department Spokesperson Chris Harvey says those include esophageal, pulmonary, blood, and skin cancers, among others.
"There are a number of different studies that have shown that certain types of cancer are more prevalent in firefighters - in some cases two-to-three times more likely in firefighters than they are in the general population," says Harvey.
He also says the wipes are similar to extra large baby wipes, but formulated to effectively remove soot and smoke residue.
He says this is all part of a larger national effort to address carcinogenic hazards firefighters face as part of their jobs.
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