DETROIT – A widow of a Detroit firefighter who died of cancer is asking the city to help her family --- as her husband helped Detroit citizens for decades.
Detroit firefighter Dale Fahoome died in January 2026 after being diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer. He served the City of Detroit for 27 years.
While his death and burial were heartbreaking, his wife, Coco Fahoome, said something unexpected happened after that. She feels the city forgot about her and her family.
She told the Investigators at Local 4 that she tried to get answers, help, and a line-of-duty designation in her husband’s death. Is she asking too much? Could the city do more?
“Dale was a positive person. He saw the good in everybody, everybody. He took his job really serous,” Coco Fahoome said. “A father, a husband, a cousin, a twin brother. He was a superhero.”
She said he liked being a firefighter because he liked helping people.
“He liked the new firemen that were coming up the ranks. He wanted them to understand that, ‘No, the city does not pay you, it’s the people. So when you go into these houses and you do these EMS runs, put them first, you know, treat them like it’s your family member,’” Coco Fahoome said.
Coco is asking the City of Detroit to give her husband the same respect. She said her husband knew his life was on the line each time he entered a burning building, and knew, long term, the odds of getting cancer from fighting all those fires were high.
Last November Dale was diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer and he died in January 2026. He was honored during a funeral in February.
“As far as a funeral, I don’t know. I just feel like it should be an automatic line of duty. Over 20 years putting the city first,” Coco Fahoome said.
When a death is ruled a line of duty death, it could mean more financial benefit for the firefighter’s family. Dale Fahoome’s cancer is not listed as a qualified cancer.
Under Michigan law, a qualified cancer means more health coverage for the family and, ultimately, in the death of a firefighter, could mean a line of duty death designation.
What Coco Fahoome is hoping for is that the city could do more. In past cases, a line of duty death has been decided on when a firefighter was not actually in the line of duty.
“You know, you got other things that have happened in the fire department where they’ve called it a line of duty and it’s up to one person’s decision,” Coco Fahoome said. “There’s another fireman that jumped in the river to save Jamal Johnson’s brother, Sivod Johnson, jumped in a river to save the kids. His was a line a duty. What makes one’s death a line of duty and this one not? ... It’s mind boggling.”
“We approach the city and we ask them questions and they’ll say, Well, it’s the HR, or it’s insurance, or it’s this.’ And, understandably, there is a system, but what’s your message to the city in reference to the system?” Karen Drew asked.
“Right, and I’m not asking for them to hold my hand. Just do what’s right, that’s all,” Coco Fahoome said.
“Could the city do more for firefighters and the firefighters family?” Karen Drew asked.
“By not having the spouse have to go through so many hurdles,” Coco Fahoome said.
Walter Fahoome is Dale’s son. He wears his father’s ashes around his neck. He, too, wants to be a Detroit firefighter. His mother supports his decision, but does have a message for the city.
“Let me know that I’m releasing my youngest into a department that’s going to take care of them, because they’ve taken care of my husband,” Coco Fahoome said.
Here’s the full statement from the city’s Human Resources Department:
“Lt. Dale Fahoome’s untimely passing was determined by City of Detroit to not be a Line of Duty Death, following a review of his case. Lt. Fahoome’s family was made aware as soon as this decision was made, prior to his death. There is medical documentation supporting the City’s decision, although no additional information can be provided due to HIPAA laws. We will be providing Mrs. Fahoome the documents she requested, and she knows that if she has any additional questions, she can reach out directly to HR Director Denise Starr on her cell phone.”
Human Resources Department, City of Detroit