Fireground contaminants do not stay on the fireground. Soot, VOCs, PFAS and other toxins travel with firefighters long after the call is over, settling into gear, truck cabs, seats, tools, personal vehicles and common areas inside the station. Over time, this creates continuous exposure risks for crews, families and community spaces. Routine decontamination is no longer limited to turnout coats...

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A new year always brings a renewed focus on health, readiness and operational safety. For firefighters, that commitment extends far beyond fitness goals or training priorities, because the gear you wear every shift carries the invisible weight of every fire you have fought. No matter how new your calendar is, your turnout gear still holds the residue, toxins and exposures...

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Firefighters are trained to face danger head-on, but some of the greatest risks can’t be seen with the naked eye. The very gear that protects them in extreme environments can become a vehicle for toxic exposure long after the flames are out. A powerful new training video produced by the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Firefighter Cancer Initiative reveals just how...

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Every January, Cancer Awareness Month shines a spotlight on a growing crisis: cancer remains the leading cause of firefighter line-of-duty deaths. Departments across the country use this month to highlight prevention practices, share survivor stories, and reinforce the need for early detection. But while January serves as an annual call to action, the threat firefighters face doesn’t follow a calendar,...

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Earlier this year in April, the National Firefighter Cancer Registry, once a beacon of hope for tracking long-term cancer incidence among firefighters, was temporarily shut down. Designed to collect critical exposure data and analyze cancer trends in the fire service, the registry aims to give departments, researchers, and policymakers a clearer understanding of the occupational risks firefighters face every day....

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By: Chief Brian Fennessy, Jeffery Stull, President of International Personal Protection, Inc. and Ret. Chief Mike Duyck  Firefighter cancer risk, contaminated PPE, and exposure accountability are no longer abstract conversations. They’re operational realities facing departments every day. In a recent Fire Engineering article, Chief Fennessey and Mike Duyck of Emergency Technical Decon sit down to address why decontamination practices must...

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Throughout 2024 and 2025, multiple states took landmark action to restrict PFAS — the “forever chemicals” long used in firefighter turnout gear for water and heat resistance. Two of the earliest adopters, Massachusetts and Connecticut, banned PFAS‑treated fire gear. The law prohibits the manufacture or sale of gear containing intentionally added PFAS.  In August 2025, Illinois passed the Deputy Chief...

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The Rising Risk Lithium‑ion batteries power everything from electric vehicles and energy storage systems to e‑bikes, power tools, and consumer devices. While they offer tremendous energy density and convenience, they also present evolving hazards for fire departments. A significant risk is thermal runaway: when a battery cell fails, it can trigger a chain reaction that generates extreme heat, flaming gases,...

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Backup turnout gear may be hiding dangerous contaminants or damage. Learn how to ensure all firefighter gear meets safety and decon standards....

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High-call fire departments need fast, effective gear cleaning. Learn why Liquid CO2+ outperforms traditional washing for busy crews....

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