Battalion Chief Monique Vandenberg, of the Santa Clara County Fire Department, died on April 30
Credit: California Fire Foundation
NEED TO KNOW
- Fire chief Monique Vandenberg died from “job-related cancer” on April 30 at the age 58, the California Fire Foundation announced
- Hailed as “trailblazer,” Vandenberg, who served as a firefighter for a total of 22 years, was diagnosed with leukemia for the second time in May 2025, per KTVU
- The 58-year-old was the first woman to become a fire captain of the Santa Clara County Fire Department
A "trailblazing" female fire chief has died from “job-related cancer” in California.
Battalion Chief Monique Vandenberg died on April 30 after 22 years working as a firefighter with the Santa Clara County Fire Department (SCCFD), the California Fire Foundation (CFF) announced on Facebook.
“It is with profound sadness that the SCCFD and Santa Clara County Firefighters, Local 1165, share the passing of one of their own,” said the CFF. “Battalion Chief Monique Vandenberg, 58, passed away on April 30, 2026, from job-related cancer after more than two decades of dedicated service. Her sacrifice and legacy will never be forgotten by her family, her fire service family, and the community she faithfully served."
Vandenberg was the first woman to become a fire captain of the SCCFD, with union leaders calling her "a trailblazing leader." She reportedly died from acute myeloid leukemia, which returned after remission, according to KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco.
Credit: Santa Clara County Fire Department/Facebook
Vandenberg was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2009. After going into remission, she was diagnosed with leukemia for the second time in May 2025, according a GoFundMe set up to support her cancer journey.
“She went in for what should have been a routine dental procedure. After the surgery, she developed what the oral surgeon believed was an infection,” a description on the fundraiser reads. “For three months she endured treatments for this infection but things didn’t improve.”
“After weeks of pain and frustration, she went to the ER at Stanford. There, doctors did a biopsy and delivered news that none of us were prepared for. They told her she had what’s called a leukemia infiltrate, also known as myeloid sarcoma, and that the cells were the same type as her previous leukemia,” the page added.
Vandenberg underwent several rounds of chemotherapy at the Oasis of Healing holistic clinic in Arizona, per GoFundMe. The fundraiser raised over $10,000, with Santa Clara County Firefighters making a $500 donation.
Acute myeloid leukemia, also called AML, "is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow," per the Mayo Clinic.
Firefighters have a 9% higher risk of getting cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from the disease than the general population, according to UCLA Health.
"Firefighting carries profound health risks that the public rarely sees. Every emergency response exposes our members to toxic smoke, hazardous materials, and carcinogens that accumulate over a career — elevating firefighters’ cancer risk significantly above the general population," IAFF Local 1165 told KTVU FOX 2. "Occupational cancer has become the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in the fire service."
The California state legislature has implemented several laws recognizing the health hazards firefighters are exposed to, including cancer, tuberculosis, bio-chemical exposures, pneumonia and post-traumatic stress injury, after support from the California Professional Firefighters (CPF).
A memorial service for Vandernberg will take place in San Jose, Calif., at the Calvary Chapel Church on Saturday, June 13.
Vandernberg is survived by her husband Josh, their two children, her mother Nelleke, sister Lisa and her two brothers, Ted and John, according to the CFF, per KTVU.
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PEOPLE has reached out to the CFF and SCCFD for further comment.
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