VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Beach Fire Department (VBFD) is mourning the loss of one of their firefighters who died on Wednesday, according to a VBFD Facebook post.
Master Firefighter Matthew Gallina suffered from a cancer that was caused by exposure to carcinogenic agents in the workplace.
The department is grieving the loss of Gallina and remembers him for his positive impact.
"It is truly impossible to describe the depth of Matt’s impact on our department and the tragedy of losing him far too soon," the Virginia Beach Fire Department said in the post on Facebook. "Please keep the Gallina family and extended family in your thoughts and prayers."
Max Gonano is the President of the Virginia Beach Firefighters and EMS union. He's also served as a firefighter in VBFD for 18 years. His emotions are a mix of sadness and frustration.
"A great man, great firefighter, great fire investigator and a great family man also,” said Gonano. "It is sheer frustration with the lack of comprehensive and ongoing cancer screenings that we're that we're eligible for. It's just not happening. This is the 4th occupational death we've had in five years.”
In April, Hampton Roads firefighters started a lawsuit to sue 26 companies that were aware their protective gear contained polyfluoralkyl (PFAS) known as forever chemicals that can cause cancer.
The former Virginia Beach captain also died from anaplastic thyroid cancer at the age of 43 on April 17, 2023.
Gallina was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2023 at an early-detection cancer screening. Gonano says the hole left by his friend will be felt by all.
" He had a big impact on everyone around him and the fire department as a whole and he's going to be sorely missed,” Gonano said.
Ultimately he hopes more can be done to protect firefighters.
"We want to make sure that we that we're only getting exposed, to the unavoidable exposures and that everything else is mitigated through better safety practices, better gear, and then ultimately some screening and surveillance for medical aspects of it all.
On Saturday, a celebration of life ceremony will be held for Galina at Pups and Pints at 2413 London Bridge Road in Virginia Beach from 5 p.m. to closing.
Galina's funeral will be held on Monday at 1 p.m. at Harbor Park Stadium. Guests are asked to make donations to the Virginia Beach Fire Foundation in place of flowers or other donations.
