[ad_1]
CLEARWATER, Fla. — A fire training session at Clearwater Fire & Rescue this Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month focused on testing new protective gear.
The International Association of Fire Fighters reports that in 2025, nearly 80% of IAFF member line of duty deaths were due to occupational cancer.
From exposure to smoke and toxins, to concerns about their own protective gear, the Firefighter Cancer Support Network reports cancer is the most dangerous threat to firefighter health and safety.
“Over the years, when I first started, we really did nothing to start to help fight cancer, we used to put on our gear, fight a fire, throw a gear back in the truck, wait for the next fire, and never even worrying about it,” said Lt. Joseph Kraus, a 25-year firefighter veteran. The acting training chief for Clearwater Fire & Rescue says things have changed.
Decades later, the worry is there. The Firefighter Cancer Support Network reports that cancer is the most dangerous threat to firefighter health and safety. Part of that threat is their own protective gear. Studies reveal protective firefighter gear often contains chemicals linked to cancer, according to the National Institute of Standards & Technology.
“PFAS is a chemical that we found that actually causes cancer, it’s in most plastics, however; in our bunker gear, it was found that they actually add PFAS to it in the thermal barrier to help protect us,” said Lt. Kraus. “So, the irony is the gear that’s protecting us may be giving us cancer.”
That’s why Clearwater Fire & Rescue is testing new, safer gear. Driver/operator Logan Chaple put the protective equipment to the heat test for the first time. In two separate fire training scenarios, he wore the current set of protective gear, then the new, PFAS-free gear for comparison.
“The main difference being that the thermal barrier is different,” said Chaple, describing the PFAS-free gear. “So, we’re trying to test out our frontline gear and this gear to see if there’s a difference in the heat we absorb inside of it.”
Chaple is also testing to see if there is any difference in the movement of the gear.
“The gear held up fine,” said Chaple after testing the gear. “I didn’t feel uncomfortable at any point, and I thought it did just fine.”
Clearwater Fire & Rescue will take additional observations and information to the city administration for consideration.
Meanwhile, Clearwater Fire officials says cancer prevention has become a priority.
“We started with a second set of bunker gear, second Nomex hood, we wash our stuff in the extractors every time we come in contact with fire,” said Lt. Kraus. He added new equipment is expected to arrive soon that will help elevate the decontamination process for additional gear.
In December 2025, the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act was signed. It recognizes firefighter cancer as a line-of-duty death, removes a requirement to pinpoint specific exposure and it extends death and education benefits to survivors. It came on the heels of state legislation in the summer of 2025, expanding protections for firefighters; including requiring purchase of gear free of hazardous materials and the monitoring of first responder health.
Meanwhile, the firefighters of today continue working to protect their own health and that of future first responders.
“We work hard to help other people, and we’d be nice to enjoy our lives without the risk of cancer as much as possible,” said Lt. Kraus.
“You can’t prevent everything, but the more things we can take out, the better,” said Chaple. “And hopefully, the better chance we can all live a long, happy life after retirement.”
[ad_2]
Melissa Eichman
Source link