Lexington Firefighter Gets Cancer Diagnosis After Battling Fires

When Lexington firefighter Matt Logsdon fought two structure fires Jan. 26, he had no idea that he had stage four cancer.

Logsdon, a 10-year veteran of the department and a father of three, hasn’t been able to work since. After seeing a doctor, Logsdon learned last week that he had cancer affecting his liver, lungs, spine and skull.

“He had no symptoms whatsoever,” Capt. Dustin Whited said. “One of the guys kind of gave him a hard time one day and said, ‘Man, you look rough. You need to go to the doctor.’”

Whited, colleagues who rode with Logsdon on Engine 8, and firefighters throughout the department decidedto do something to help. They started a page to raise money to help Logsdon’s family with expenses.

“He shouldn’t have to worry about feeding his kids and keeping the electric on,” Whited said.

Logsdon, who is in his early 40s, has never smoked and has no family history of cancer, Whited said.

Firefighters might face a heightened risk for cancer because of carcinogens in smoke and other hazardous materials, he said.

“We try to take every caution,” Whited said. “But the nature of the beast is we’re exposed to a lot of things.”

In addition to helping Logsdon with his medical expenses, firefighters hope the donations will help his wife, Jessica; two sons, 9 and 16; and his 8-year old daughter, Whited said.

“He’s not going to be able to work through all of this,” Whited said. “And because of it being in the lungs, regardless of the outcome, he probably will never work here again. Chances of coming back after cancer is slim.”

Friday was declared Firefighter Appreciation Day by Mayor Jim Gray after the massive fire Saturday that destroyed Bluegrass Stockyards.

Some firefighters hope the community will show its appreciation by donating to help Logsdon, Whited said.

“Instead of bringing cookies to the station or something, we’re hoping people will donate to that,” he said. “He’s one of us, he’s a firefighter, so it’s much more important to us than brownies or something brought by the station.”

Morgan Eads: ,

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