Frequently asked questions: Firefighter presumptive care

Now we can process and adjudicate firefighter and fire investigator claims for esophageal cancer by presuming it's work related if you have been a firefighter or fire investigator for 15 years, instead of 25 years.

This means if a person has been a firefighter or fire investigator for at least 15 and is diagnosed with esophageal cancer, we will presume that their illness is work related. This gives them faster and easier access to the benefits and support they need.

These changes took effect on May 1, 2024.

If you have already submitted a claim for esophageal cancer, you do not need to take any action. We will call you about any legislative changes that affect your claim.

We are reviewing any past claims where we may need to reconsider the decision based on the expanded coverage. We’ll reach out to these people about their claim.

As of October 28, 2024 presumptive coverage for post-traumatic stress disorder extends to include both wildland firefighters and wildland fire investigators in certain circumstances.

We’re updating our policy to reflect these legislative changes. All decisions related to affected claims will be based on the new legislation, until the policy is updated.

As of May 1, 2024, presumptive coverage for cancers and heart injuries was extended to include both wildland firefighters and wildland fire investigators. We have updated our policy for cancer and for heart injuries in firefighters and fire investigators to include wildland firefighters and wildland fire investigators.

We are in the process of updating our policy for cancer to reflect new rules for calculating employment periods for wildland firefighters. These rules, effective December 2, 2024, state that a fixed term of employment within a calendar year should be included as one calendar year of employment for: 

• wildland firefighters employed by the Ministry of Natural Resources for the primary purpose of providing fire protection services for a fixed term within a calendar year, and
• wildland firefighters assigned by their employer under a contract for services with the Ministry of Natural Resources for the primary purpose of providing fire protection services for a period of time within a calendar year.

The Ontario government announced an expansion of presumptive cancer coverage for eligible firefighters and fire investigators to include pancreatic and thyroid cancers.

These changes took effect on June 29, 2023.

The expanded presumptive coverage is for firefighters and fire investigators employed in those jobs for 10 or more years who have been diagnosed with pancreatic and thyroid cancers. The coverage is retroactive to January 1, 1960. You can read more about presumptive cancer coverage, including existing coverage for certain other cancers. 

Yes, in some cases a claim that was previously not allowed may now be eligible to receive benefits under the expanded presumptive coverage. We are proactively reviewing previous claims to identify any that we may need to reconsider.

This expanded presumptive coverage applies to pancreatic and thyroid cancers for eligible firefighters and fire investigators. For other cancers that may be covered by existing presumptive coverages, see our Cancers in Firefighters and Fire Investigators Policy. 

Costs vary based on the facts of each specific case. We will make every effort to provide a preliminary estimation of the claim cost as soon as we are able. You will know the exact cost of any impacted claims when a decision on the claim has been made. 

Please email employeraccounts@wsib.on.ca or call us at 1-800-387-0750, Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. if you need support with your WSIB account.