From WOI-DT TV: Des Moines Firefighter Kirk Pederson died Monday from lung and throat cancer, and under a new Iowa state law, his death will be classified as "in the line of duty."

In 2009, the Iowa Legislature passed the cancer-presumption law to cover some cancers and other diseases as job-related. Firefighters pay more into the pension fund in order to cover the additional 10% in benefits the surviving family receives when a death is considered on the job.

Pederson, a non-smoker, developed lung cancer, which then spread to several other organs. He battled cancer for seven months.

Pederson is the second firefighter in the state to qualify under this law. A similar law was already in place to cover heart and lung disease.