Patrick Long (Federal Firefighting, Submarine Fires and Preventing Fire Service Cancer) - Episode 1202
Behind The Shield
James Geering
4.9 • 695 Ratings
🗓️ 15 February 2026
⏱️ 85 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Founded by Patrick Long, a firefighter with over a decade of service in Southeast Georgia, The Decon Project began with a deeply personal mission. In February 2025, Patrick was diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. After six rounds of chemotherapy, he is now grateful to be cancer free—but his fight didn’t end there.
Unsure whether his cancer was linked to the job, Patrick knew one thing for certain: no firefighter should have to face what he did. His experience ignited a new flame—a drive to help his brothers and sisters in the fire service reduce their cancer risk and stay healthy for years to come.
The Decon Project is dedicated to ensuring that no firefighter has to choose between serving their community and safeguarding their health. Through evidence-based decontamination practices, early detection programs, and essential supplies, they’re helping reduce cancer risks in the fire service—so every firefighter can go home safe and stay healthy for years to come.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Behind the Shield podcast. As always, my name is James Gearing. And this week, it is my |
| 0:04.0 | absolute honor to welcome on the show, veteran firefighter, cancer survivor, and the founder of the |
| 0:11.2 | Decon Project, Patrick Long. Now, in this conversation, we discuss a host of topics. From his unique |
| 0:18.9 | journey into the fire service, the potential hazards on submarines, |
| 0:24.1 | his powerful cancer story, the importance of post-fire decons, the use of sauna, and so much more. |
| 0:32.8 | Now before we get to this incredible conversation, as I say every week, please just take a moment. |
| 0:38.5 | Go to whichever app you listen to this on, subscribe to the show, leave feedback and leave |
| 0:44.2 | a rating. Every single five-star rating truly does elevate this podcast, therefore making it |
| 0:50.4 | easier for others to find. And this is a free library of over 1,200 episodes now. |
| 0:58.0 | So all I ask in return is that you help share these incredible men and women's stories |
| 1:03.6 | so I can get them to every single person on planet Earth who needs to hear them. |
| 1:09.7 | So with that being said, I introduce to you Patrick Long. Enjoy. Anyway. Well, Patrick, I want to start by saying thank you so much for taking the time and coming on the Behind the Shield podcast today. |
| 1:41.5 | Hey, thank you so much, James. I am beyond excited and really thankful for this opportunity. |
| 1:47.4 | And I'm looking forward to having a great conversation and getting to know each other a little bit |
| 1:53.1 | and more and sharing some things that I'm working on and what I feel God's kind of blessed me with |
| 1:58.8 | and point me to. So really excited. |
| 2:01.3 | Thank you. |
| 2:02.2 | Likewise. |
| 2:03.2 | So the very first question, where on planet Earth will be finding you today? |
| 2:07.1 | Hey, man, I am in Waverly, Georgia. |
| 2:10.4 | It is definitely just a dot on the map. |
| 2:15.7 | There is not much here. |
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