By: Emergency Technical Decon Team Choosing the right Independent Service Provider (ISP) for turnout gear cleaning is about more than ticking boxes. The right partner should protect firefighter health, preserve gear performance, and support your department’s compliance with evolving standards like NFPA 1850. As awareness of PFAS exposure, gear degradation, and environmental safety grows, so does the importance of finding …
Why Every Fire Department Needs a Gear Life Cycle Plan
Learn how a structured gear life cycle plan helps fire departments protect crews, extend PPE lifespan, and stay compliant with NFPA 1850 standards.
PFAS in Firefighter Gear: The Growing Risk Departments Can No Longer Ignore
Learn how PFAS in firefighter gear increases cancer risk and what departments can do to reduce exposure through proper cleaning and decontamination.
The History of Bunker Gear: How Firefighter Protection Evolved
Trace the history of bunker gear from leather helmets to high-tech PPE—and learn how advanced cleaning helps protect today’s firefighters.
The Growing Legal and Insurance Risks of Poor PPE Maintenance
How inadequate gear decontamination can lead to lawsuits, higher insurance costs, and workers’ comp claims.
Protecting The Skin You’re In: Skin Cancer Awareness Month
By: The Emergency Technical Decon Team One of the most dangerous threats firefighters face daily is also one of the least visible: prolonged exposure to carcinogens that affect the skin. May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, a time to recognize one of the most overlooked aspects of firefighter safety—skin health. Skin is your first line of defense, and it deserves …
What Fire Departments Can Learn About PFAS Removal in Industrial Contamination
Learn how fire departments can reduce PFAS exposure by adapting decontamination strategies from industries with decades of chemical cleanup experience.
What Research Tells Us About Sweat & PFAS Absorption
How heat and perspiration accelerate exposure—and why clean gear matters more than ever.
Can Turnout Gear Ever Be Completely Free of Toxins?
Firefighter turnout gear can’t be toxin-free—yet. Learn how departments are minimizing exposure risks with safer materials and better cleaning.
Why On-Scene Gross Decontamination Isn’t Enough
On-scene decon removes surface soot, but toxic PFAS, PAHs, and VOCs linger. Learn why full-cycle turnout gear cleaning is critical for firefighter safety.