PERRYSBURG, Ohio —
After serving his community for over 30 years, a Perrysburg Township firefighter and paramedic died on Friday due to occupational cancer.
Troy Bernhard, 49, graduated from Anthony Wayne High School and worked at Monclova Township and Waterville fire departments before joining Perrysburg Township Fire, where he worked for 28 years.
"Troy was a guy that would have a dad joke ready at the moment," Perrysburg Township firefighter and paramedic Mike Thompson said. "He was quick to crack a good joke. Made you laugh, made good food and he was a hard worker."
During a routine physical that's done annually at the fire station in 2021, Bernhard found out he had cancer that could be traced back to work.
Occupational cancer is the leading cause of death for firefighters, according to the CDC. The U.S. Fire Administration reported firefighters have a 9% higher risk of developing cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer compared to the general public.
"At the end of the day, we are exposed to a lot of bad things, toxins, infectious diseases," Thompson said.
Thompson said Bernhard is the first documented death related to occupational cancer for the Perrysburg Township Fire Department, but he may not be the only one.
"There may have been a Perrysburg Township firefighter who was a volunteer who got cancer, but there's no documentation to the best of our knowledge that proves and shows that their line of work here as a volunteer led to them getting cancer," Thompson said.
Thompson said there has been more attention on occupational cancer in recent years. Gov. Mike DeWine announced earlier this year a program to get rid of "forever chemicals" in firefighting foam.
Bernhard worked his last shift in 2023, but reminders of him can still be seen all around the station.
"He spray painted old repurposed hoses to be an American flag," Thompson said.
Bernhard also has multiple paintings that are in the department, he helped design the challenge coins for the department and made a giant wooden shield for the department.
Bernhard also designed a line of duty death memorial wall to honor firefighters across the country who have died. This year, he'll be represented as one of those numbers on the 2024 plaque, but his fellow firefighters will remember him as a man who loved his family, his community and Jimmy Buffet.
"He wanted to be at the fire station, with his family or at Margaritaville," Thompson said. "One of the three. He was a happy camper, so that was one of the things I think a lot of people will remember about Troy as well."
Bernhard is survived by his wife and two children.
Thompson said the personal memories everyone has will stay with them forever, but it is nice to see reminders of him at work.
"He will eternally live on here at the station," Thompson said.
DeWine ordered flags at the statehouse and in Wood County to be flown at half-staff until sunset on Saturday.
A full firefighter funeral service will be held at Monclova Road Baptist Church on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., followed by a procession to Roth Cemetery.