Pearland Firefighter Battles Cancer
Lt. David Hefner has spent his life serving others. He is a 20 year Army veteran and a 17 year career firefighter who has dedicated his career to protecting his community and serving alongside his fellow firefighters. David and his family are facing a difficult fight with what is believed to be occupational cancer.
Like many in the fire service, David has spent years responding to emergencies, entering hazardous environments, and putting the safety of others before his own. The risks firefighters face do not always end when the fire is out. Long term exposure to smoke, toxins, and carcinogens has been linked to increased cancer rates across the fire service.
The firefighting community has always been known for taking care of its own. Departments, firefighters, and supporters from across the region are coming together to support David and his family during this time.
The most direct way to help is through donations that will assist the Hefner family as they navigate treatment and the challenges that come with it. Every contribution helps ease the financial burden and allows David and his family to focus on what matters most.
You can donate here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe63AxHAlv2Kz0hP42zALQUB1WMJTMqQuV1X2udv8Hpwi998Q/viewform
In addition to donations, the Dirty Bay FOOLS will host Hefner Fire Days on May 16, 2026 at the Pearland Fire Department Training Field located at 2703 Veterans Drive in Pearland. This one day training event will bring firefighters together for a full day of hands on training while raising funds to support the Hefner family.
The event will feature four training rotations focused on essential fireground skills:
Hose Handling
Forcible Entry
Search and Rescue
Thermal Imaging
Registration is $125 per firefighter, which includes lunch and entry into raffle drawings. All proceeds from the event will go directly toward supporting the Hefner family.
Events like this are a reminder of the strong bond that exists within the fire service. Firefighters train together, respond together, and when one of our own needs help, we show up.
Whether through a donation, attending the training event, or simply sharing this information, every bit of support makes a difference.