PFAS in Firefighter Turnout Gear: What Departments Should Do
Firefighters have spent years hearing about toxic smoke. Now a harder question is moving into station kitchens, purchasing meetings, and gear rooms: what chemicals are in the protective clothing meant to keep crews safe?
Recent research and a high-profile department purchase point to a practical answer: departments should treat turnout-gear exposure as one part of a larger contamination-control program. That means selecting gear carefully, washing it correctly, keeping contaminated equipment out of living areas, and documenting what happens after every fire.
Why PFAS in turnout gear is getting attention
PFAS are a family of highly persistent chemicals used for water and oil repellency. NIST reported finding several PFAS compounds in samples of new firefighter turnout-gear textiles. A peer-reviewed review also describes PFAS sources across protective clothing, moisture barriers, firefighting foam, station dust, and air.
The finding does not mean a firefighter should reject required PPE or alter a department's standard operating procedures. Turnout gear exists to control immediate life safety hazards. The more useful question is how a department can reduce unnecessary exposure before, during, and after the call.
The operational lesson: contamination control is a system
The International Association of Fire Fighters continues to identify occupational cancer and next-generation turnout gear as major fire-service policy issues. In 2025, the Associated Press reported that East Providence, Rhode Island, equipped its firefighters with PFAS-free gear after testing and procurement work. That purchase is a useful case study, but it is not a universal solution: departments still have to evaluate thermal protection, certification, durability, cleaning, cost, and replacement cycles.
- Keep used gear out of apparatus cabs and sleeping or eating areas when practical.
- Bag and transport contaminated gear according to department policy.
- Use an advanced cleaning program and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- Track exposure, cleaning, repairs, and retirement dates.
- Do not wear turnout gear for station events, travel, or public appearances unless the assignment requires it.
What the research says about wildland smoke
CDC/NIOSH notes that wildland firefighters may work for days or weeks and often do so without respiratory protection. The Department of the Interior announced an interim effort in 2026 to reduce smoke exposure for federal wildland firefighters while a comprehensive respiratory-protection program is developed.
Wildland-urban interface incidents, overhaul, mop-up, and long-duration outdoor assignments can all create smoke exposure after the visible flames are gone. Respiratory-protection decisions should be based on the incident, the agency's program, fit testing, medical evaluation, and applicable standards.
How to turn concern into a department checklist
- Can contaminated gear be isolated immediately after a call?
- Does every member know when and how to request cleaning?
- Are helmets, gloves, hoods, boots, coat, and pants tracked together?
- Are station surfaces and apparatus cleaned after contaminated gear is handled?
- Does the department record the exposure and corrective action?
A station sticker or shirt is not PPE, but it can keep the conversation visible. The “Firefighting, Not Lift Assists” sticker, “First Due or Forgotten” tee, and Salty Lid firefighter hat are station-wear options that help keep crew identity and safety conversations visible. They do not replace a decon policy.
What firefighters should do next
Ask your officer or safety committee where your department's written gear-cleaning policy lives. When evaluating new gear, ask vendors for current certification, material disclosures, cleaning instructions, and evidence supporting any PFAS-related claim. The strongest response is disciplined exposure reduction, better procurement questions, and consistent post-incident decontamination.