MELBOURNE, Fla. – The widow of a Melbourne firefighter is fighting for benefits she says her family is owed under Florida law.
Amy Wiles lost her husband, Andrew Eyster, to cancer in May, following a brutal three-and-a-half-year battle with the disease.
“It was a gut punch. You know, he was 48 at the time,” Wiles said, recalling the diagnosis in 2021.
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Eyster had served as a firefighter for the city of Melbourne for 24 years, fulfilling a lifelong dream.
Eyster and Wiles were aware of Senate Bill 426, signed into law in 2019, which provides financial compensation to full-time firefighters diagnosed with one of 21 cancers.
The law offers a $25,000 payment upon diagnosis and covers medical treatment.
It also promises a $75,000 death benefit.
While the city paid for his medical treatment and the initial cash payment, they denied the death benefit after his passing.
Wiles says the denial was crushing. “I have zero fight left in me, and this is, it’s, it’s so unfair,” she said.
Legal loopholes challenge widows of firefighters
Attorney Geoff Bichler, who represents Wiles and others, points out a troubling trend in how local agencies handle these cases.
“What we’re finding around the state of Florida, unfortunately, is that a lot of these death cases are being denied on technical grounds,” he said.
In Eyster’s case, the denial stemmed from his retirement, which was necessitated by his cancer treatment.
Bichler emphasized the flaws in the argument.
“It’s only been in the last year or so that we’ve seen this new defense come up that, oh, the person’s not still employed, therefore they don’t get the death benefit,” he explained.
However, the law mandates that the benefit should be available for up to 10 years after a firefighter’s employment ends.
The reality of the situation, Bichler added, underscores the inconsistency in applying the law.
“Any firefighter cancer death claim is not going to have a firefighter who’s still employed with that agency at the time they die.”
A widow’s ongoing fight for justice
Wiles continues to honor her husband’s memory while navigating the financial and emotional toll.
Just last week, Eyster’s name was added to the Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Ocala.
Standing among other grieving families, Wiles reflected on her husband’s sacrifice.
“The financial burden of cancer for three and a half years is unbelievable,” she said. But the fight for justice isn’t just about money.
But the fight for justice isn’t just about money.
“Andy’s life shouldn’t boil down to 75-thousand dollars.”
News 6 shared the report with the State Fire Marshal’s office. A spokesman sent us a statement:
“Throughout his time in office, CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis has fought diligently to give Florida’s dedicated firefighters access to the cancer benefits they deserve.
The Department is aware of this situation and is monitoring it closely.”
News 6 will continue to follow this.
Since November 2019, News 6 has investigated cases that involved Florida firefighters diagnosed with cancer yet were unable to collect benefits.
Our reporting has led to calls to expand coverage of cancers for firefighters.
News 6 presented several of our reports to the office of State Fire Marshall Jimmy Patronis, a strong proponent of SB 426.
To read a full summary of SB 426, click this link.
Patronis has expressed support for legislation that expands coverage.
If you know of a firefighter that was diagnosed with cancer not listed under SB 426, email the information to LBolden@wkmg.com.
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