El Paso Fire Department wears pink badges for breast cancer awareness

The El Paso Fire Department is wearing pink badges this October as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, according to KVIA. The badges serve as a symbol of solidarity with those battling the disease, Chief Jonathan Killings said.

"Everybody's always proud to wear their badge, their fire department badge, and what it represents. So now we can just change it up a little bit and help support the cause, a good cause," Killings said, according to KVIA. He added that wearing the badges demonstrates the department's commitment to raising awareness and saving lives through early detection and screening.

Many firefighters have personal connections to breast cancer. Killings noted that some have spouses currently battling the disease and eagerly sought out the pink badges to show support. "If it just reminds somebody, hey, you know what? I'm going to go get screened, early screening or just sparks a conversation with a loved one about some concerns or causes you to have a conversation with your with your doctor or something, and again, leads to an early diagnosis and a positive outcome. Then, you know, we did our job," Killings told ABC-7, according to KVIA.

The fire department has partnered with the American Cancer Society to bring a Making Strides Against Breast Cancer giant pink inflatable chair to fire stations throughout the month. Residents can visit participating stations to take photos with the chair and learn more about breast cancer prevention and detection. Donations to the American Cancer Society will receive a limited-edition pink El Paso Fire Department patch while supplies last.

The pink chair will be on display October 13 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Fire Station 22, 6500 N. Mesa St., and October 20 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Central Fire Station, 201 S. Florence St.