Fayetteville Fire Department battalion chief's cancer death declared 'line-of-duty-death'

Joseph Pierre and F.T. Norton, Fayetteville Observer

On the second anniversary of his death, the city of Fayetteville announced that the cancer death of Battalion Chief John Bowen was deemed by the state Industrial Insurance Commission to be the result of his work as a firefighter.

According to the January decision by the Insurance Commission, Bowen's death of intestinal cancer on April 16, 2022, was a direct result of his exposure to hazardous materials during his 14 years with the Fayetteville Fire Department.

State law "creates a presumption that a firefighter is 'killed in the line of duty' when his death is a direct and proximate result of six cancers that are occupationally related to firefighting. One of these six cancers is cancer of the small intestine," the order reads.

According to data provided to the Commission, Bowen, 35, was exposed to carcinogens during the 4,968 emergency responses, 1,970 fire calls and 33 hazardous material calls to which he responded.

"Based upon a preponderance of the evidence, the undersigned finds that (Bowen's) death on April 16, 2022, was a direct and proximate result of suffering from cancer of the small intestine and he is therefore presumed to have been killed in the line of duty," the order reads.

It directs that Bowen's estate be awarded $100,000, as outlined in state law for the survivors of those killed in the line of duty.

Fayetteville Fire Department Battalion Chief John Bowen who died of cancer on April 16, 2022 at 35 years old.
Fayetteville Fire Department Battalion Chief John Bowen who died of cancer on April 16, 2022 at 35 years old.

A news release Tuesday from the city of Fayetteville noted that a study by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health found that firefighters have a 9% higher rate of cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer than the general population.

The last line-of-duty death reported by the department was firefighter David Clements Sharp II, 31, the release said. Sharp died March 17, 2000, when the ladder truck he was driving was struck by a train at the CSX railroad crossing on Cumberland Street near Ramsey Street.

The city news release goes on to note that the Fayetteville Fire Department has had "many of its members" die of cancer, including:

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According to the release, the fire department \implemented new measures to ensure the safety of firefighters.

"Proactive measures implemented include purchasing an extra set of personal protective equipment (PPE), placing extractors at 15 of 17 stations, gross decontamination equipment on apparatus, and installed vehicle exhaust systems in five of the 17 stations," the release said.

According to Bowen's obituary, his foray into firefighting began when he was 16 and joined the Westarea Volunteer Fire Department. After graduating from the Fayetteville Fire Department fire academy in 2008, he quickly rose through the ranks and was promoted to captain in 2016, the obituary said.

In 2019, he was promoted to battalion chief where he was assigned to Battalion 2B managing six stations, the obituary said In 2021, he was reassigned as accreditation manager where he prepared the 2021 annual report for the Fire Department. He informed the department of his cancer diagnosis in 2021, a year before he died.

"His servant leadership through the years still resonates within the Fayetteville Fire Department," the city news release said.

Public safety reporter Joseph Pierre can be reached at jpierre@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville firefighter John Bowen's death was 'line-of-duty-death'

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