The Township of Esquimalt is making the health of its first responders a top priority.
Esquimalt council directed staff to use $75,000 from the contingency account to move towards potentially life-saving PFAS-free firefighting gear for the Esquimalt Fire Services.
At the township's Monday, Nov. 25 meeting, Esquimalt Fire Chief Matt Furlot made the case for the new gear, saying the current gear they use contains PFAS, or polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances, which are associated with cancer and other health risks.
"In doing so, [council] would be removing the risk of PFAS exposure from turnout gear and prioritizing the health and safety of the firefighters," Furlot told the council.
In June 2023, the BC Professional Firefighters Association and the Fire Chiefs Association of BC issued a joint statement warning firefighters of the adverse health risks associated with firefighter turnout gear.
"[The associations] are working closely together to ensure best practices are followed in light of the recent studies that have shown that all three layers of firefighter turnout gear contain [PFAS], a class of fluorinated chemicals known as “forever chemicals” which have been linked to cancer and other serious health effects," noted the statement.
According to the price-quote for the gear, 31 pairs of PFAS-free pants, jackets, liners and moisture barriers comes to a price of almost $150,000, and the fire department agreed to pay half of the price from their own operational budget and the replacement gear budget.
The motion to provide the remainder of the funds for the equipment passed unanimously.
