Second Phoenix firefighter dies from job-related cancer

PHOENIX — A Phoenix firefighter has died over the weekend after battling cancer that he contracted while on the job, the city’s second first responder to die from occupational cancer this year.

Brian Beck Jr. died Sunday from an unspecified occupational cancer, the department and firefighter union United Phoenix Firefighters confirmed Monday.

He was 31. The third-generation firefighter leaves behind a wife and three young children.

Beck worked mainly at Fire Station 33 near 23rd Avenue and Cactus Road during his eight years with the department.

He will be memorialized by the Phoenix Fire Department as a line-of-duty death. The details of his services are still pending.

“Please keep the Beck family and Brian’s friends and fellow firefighters in your thoughts for strength and healing in this difficult time,” the union said in a Facebook post.

“Occupational cancer has proven to be the new epidemic we face in the fire service, far too many precious colleagues of ours have been lost to this relentless illness.”

Phoenix firefighter Rick Telles died in January after battling an aggressive form of cancer that he contracted as a firefighter.

Mesa firefighter Nikki Sullivan died at 45 in April “after a courageous and tough fight with cancer.”

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