Sooke Fire Rescue is treading carefully into the waters of PFAS-free firefighter protective gear with one set of turnouts in-house for testing.
The goal is to get rid of personal protection equipment including pants, gloves and jackets known to contain polyfluoroalkyl substances – commonly called PFAS or “forever chemicals.” PFAS is a category of manufactured chemicals that have been linked to cancer and other diseases. Turnout gear actually relies on PFAS as the potentially life- and limb-saving element that creates flame resistance.
Like many fire departments, Sooke is eager to replace gear with something PFAS-free – as it becomes accessible.
“We obviously are committed to getting better gear for our firefighters,” said Deputy Fire Chief Chris McCrea.
The gear is expensive and currently only available from one source. With two other products on the horizon and ongoing legislation work, the Sooke Fire Rescue Department plans to test all three products.
“We’re not replacing everything at this time, we’re trying to get the best product for our people,” McCrea said. “We want to make sure we get it right the first time.”
Cutting out potential cancer-causing gear seems a simple decision on the surface – reality sees firefighters work closely with potentially harmful chemicals in both the foam they fight fires with and the gear that protects them from the flames.
In part of the ongoing effort to change standards, Saanich North and the Islands MLA Adam Olsen pitched a bill in spring 2024 to ban the potentially cancer-causing firefighting equipment. Olsen picked up the cause pitched by the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Association and tabled the bill on March 14, 2024.
If enacted, the bill would require employers to provide PFAS-free fire suppression foam and prohibit foam containing PFAS, by Dec. 31, 2025. It would also require transition to PFAS-free personal protective equipment by Jan. 1, 2029.
Faced with the daunting expense and lack of options, many regional departments use best practices available – including only wearing gear when necessary, ensuring appropriate decontamination and isolating dirty turnout areas from clean.
In late 2024, Esquimalt set aside $75,000 from its contingency fund to move toward PFAS-free firefighting gear for Esquimalt Fire Services.
According to a quote for the gear, 31 pairs of PFAS-free pants, jackets, liners and moisture barriers come to a price of almost $150,000. The fire department agreed to pay half from its own operational and gear replacement budgets.
- with files from Bailey Seymour
