The South Strabane Township Fire Department was recently honored as a Gold Helmet Department through the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer (NFR) initiative powered by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Firefighter Wesley Attwood was the driving force behind enrolling more than 50% of his colleagues at the department for taking proactive steps to improving the understanding of occupational cancer risks in fire service. By enrolling, firefighters in the NFR, contribute critical data to help protect future generations of emergency responders. Attwood says that his participation is personal as his grandfather, a firefighter in Punxutawney, PA died of esophageal cancer caused by fumes breathed in during his career. South Strabane Fire Department is one of 76 fire departments across the United States and only three in Pennsylvania to earn the award. The other Pennsylvania departments are the Fox Chapel Fire Department and the Taylorstown Fire Department, also in Washington County.