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Questions Chiefs Should Ask Their PPE Cleaning ProviderJuly 15, 2026Questions Chiefs Should Ask Their PPE Cleaning ProviderBlogBy: Mike Duyck, Senior Advisor Selecting a PPE cleaning provider has never been more important. Today's firefighters face exposure to an... -
NIST Study: How Wear and Tear Changes Measurable PFAS Levels in Firefighter Turnout GearJune 17, 2026NIST Study: How Wear and Tear Changes Measurable PFAS Levels...BlogBy: Mike Duyck, Senior Advisor Firefighters rely on turnout gear to protect them from some of the most hazardous environments imaginable....
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Firefighter Turnout Gear Cost: Sticker Price vs. 10 Year CostMay 13, 2026Firefighter Turnout Gear Cost: Sticker Price vs. 10 Year CostBlogBy: Emergency Technical Decon Firefighter turnout gear cost is about far more than the upfront purchase price. Between NFPA compliance requirements,...
Questions Chiefs Should Ask Their PPE Cleaning Provider
By: Mike Duyck, Senior Advisor Selecting a PPE cleaning provider has never been more important. Today’s firefighters face exposure to an increasingly complex mix of carcinogens, PFAS, heavy metals, combustion byproducts, and other hazardous contaminants that can remain embedded in turnout gear long after an incident. While NFPA 1851 provides the framework for inspection, cleaning, repair, and retirement of firefighting...
NIST Study: How Wear and Tear Changes Measurable PFAS Levels in Firefighter Turnout Gear
By: Mike Duyck, Senior Advisor Firefighters rely on turnout gear to protect them from some of the most hazardous environments imaginable. Yet growing research continues to raise important questions about the materials used in personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as “forever chemicals.” In May 2026, researchers at the National...
Firefighter Turnout Gear Cost: Sticker Price vs. 10 Year Cost
By: Emergency Technical Decon Firefighter turnout gear cost is about far more than the upfront purchase price. Between NFPA compliance requirements, inspections, repairs, decontamination, and replacement schedules, the true cost of ownership can impact department budgets for years. Modern turnout gear is engineered to protect firefighters from extreme heat, carcinogen exposure, hazardous particulates, and dangerous environments. That protection comes with...
Lithium-Ion Battery Fires: The Evolving Risk Facing Today’s Firefighters
By: Emergency Technical Decon As electric vehicles become more common, lithium-ion battery fires are no longer rare incidents – they are a growing part of the modern fireground. These fires are not simply a new version of a familiar challenge. They introduce a different level of complexity, a different burn profile, and a significantly different exposure risk for firefighters. Emerging...
Data Shows Continued Toxic Risks in Today’s Fireground
By: Emergency Technical Decon For decades, firefighter cancer risk has been closely tied to fireground exposure. Structure fires, vehicle fires, and hazardous incidents have long been understood as primary sources of carcinogen exposure. Emerging research is expanding that understanding. Recent findings published in the MDPI Journal of Xeonibiotics show that firefighters are not only exposed during active fire events but...
The Risks Aren’t New: Why Firefighter Protection Can’t Wait
By: Emergency Technical Decon In recent headlines, conversations around PFAS in firefighter turnout gear have intensified. Departments are evaluating “PFAS-free” gear, weighing costs, performance, and long-term implications. In some cases, decisions are being delayed altogether because the science is still evolving. One element will always remain the same – the risk. PFAS exposure in the fire service is not new....
Managing Stress and Trauma in the Fire Service
By: Emergency Technical Decon April is National Stress Awareness Month, a time to recognize the impact stress has on overall health. For most people, exposure to traumatic events is limited to a handful of experiences over a lifetime. For firefighters, it is part of the job. From structure fires and vehicle extrications to medical calls and loss of life, firefighters...
Inside an NFPA-Compliant Inspection
By: ETD Team How much time truly goes into an NFPA-compliant, end-to-end turnout gear inspection? Behind every coat and pant set is a detailed, labor-intensive process designed to meet stringent documentation, cleaning, inspection, and repair requirements under NFPA 1851 and the updated NFPA 1850 standard. A compliant advanced inspection is not a quick visual check. It is a structured, multi-team...
Liquid CO2+ vs. Liquid CO2+: What’s the Difference?
By: ETD Team For departments exploring advanced decontamination alternatives to water washing, liquid CO2+ cleaning is often the first technology that surfaces. It is solvent-based, water-free, and capable of penetrating turnout gear more effectively than traditional extraction methods. But not all CO2 systems are created equal. There is a measurable difference between standard liquid CO2+ cleaning and Liquid CO2+ technology...
The Hidden Cost of Water Washing Turnout Gear
By: ETD Team For decades, water-based washing has been the standard method for cleaning firefighter turnout gear. It is familiar, accessible, and widely accepted. But as more research emerges around PFAS, PAHs, heavy metals, and other carcinogenic contaminants embedded in PPE, the limitations – and risks – of traditional water washing are becoming impossible to ignore. The reality is clear:...
