
On January 30, MKThink hosted our Prevention in Action Salon at our San Francisco “living hub” office, Ocean Plant. The evening brought together firefighters, medical professionals, technology innovators, journalists, and community leaders to explore how Spatial Intelligence can mitigate health risks in fire stations and enhance firefighter well-being.
Why Fire Stations Matter
At MKThink, our mission is to make critical places better. Fire stations are more than workplaces; they are hubs of community safety, resilience, and support for first responders. However, these spaces often contain hidden environmental hazards that put firefighters at risk. Given their vital role, ensuring that fire stations are designed to keep firefighters safe and healthy is paramount.
The Challenge: Occupational Cancer in Firefighters

Firefighters face a 14% higher cancer risk than the general population. In 2023 alone, 72% of line-of-duty deaths among International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) members were linked to occupational cancer, largely due to prolonged exposure to hazardous pollutants like diesel exhaust and particulate matter from vehicle systems [1][2][3].
The increase in wildfires and urban air pollution has only exacerbated this problem, making air quality within fire stations a critical yet often overlooked factor in firefighter health.
MKThink’s Role: Using Spatial Intelligence to Improve Health Outcomes
Emilio Goldenhersch, Enterprise Director and Behavioral Scientist at MKThink opened the discussion with a simple grounding breath, setting the tone for a conversation about why and how we are working to improve firefighter safety. He explained how MKThink’s Spatial Intelligence framework can be leveraged to understand, mitigate, and prevent health risks in fire stations through environmental data, behavioral insights, and smart space interventions.
MKThink’s pilot project with the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) aims to transform fire stations into safer, healthier environments. Learn more here.
The Human Element: Voices from the Field

Matt Alba, Board Member of the San Francisco Firefighter Cancer Prevention Foundation and Battalion Chief at the Division of Health, Safety, and Wellness, and John Bagala, Union President at Marin Professional Firefighters, shared their firsthand experiences from cultural resistance to change within firehouses to the emotional toll of “funeral fatigue” as they lose colleagues to occupational cancer. They emphasized the urgent need for actionable solutions to protect firefighter health.
“People are beginning to realize that we are the canaries in the coal mine. Scientists are approaching us to learn how wellness interventions, like air quality improvements, better sleep environments, and therapies like sauna use, can mitigate long-term health risks.” - Matt Alba.
Sunyjya Schweig, MD, founder and president of the California Center for Functional Medicine, is currently studying firefighter wellness and highlighted holistic strategies to reduce cancer risks, including interventions in sleep hygiene, diet, light exposure, and behavioral patterns. His work underscores the importance of integrating preventative measures into everyday routines—both inside and outside the fire station.
The Bigger Picture: How Spatial Intelligence Drives Change

MKThink’s Director of Spatial Intelligence, Archana Ramachandran, underscored the connection between the environment and the people living and working in it. Highlighting MKThink’s previous work exploring relationships between space design and human well-being, she shared with both the audience and panelists our methods for understanding how critical places operate and how we can use that information to make them better. Our study with SFFD is just the beginning. By combining technology, design, and human-centered insights, MKThink is pioneering a proactive and scalable approach to designing safe and healthy places.
Looking Ahead
The energy in the room was palpable, a mix of urgency, curiosity, and hope. Panelists and attendees engaged in thoughtful discussions about the potential of Spatial Intelligence to drive meaningful, data-backed improvements in fire stations.
This project is not just about firefighter health, it’s about rethinking critical places to make them safer, smarter, and more sustainable for the future.
At MKThink, we believe that prevention is action, and we are committed to using Spatial Intelligence to shape healthier environments for those who dedicate their lives to protecting us.
Want to learn more about how we can optimize your critical space using spatial intelligence? Contact us here.
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