Firefighter turnout gear is supposed to be the ultimate protection, but six years after a Notre Dame study confirmed it, much of that gear still contains PFAS, the cancer-linked “forever chemicals.” Cancer is already the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths for firefighters, and replacement gear runs $5,000 to $8,000 per firefighter. Half of the fire chiefs surveyed nationwide say their departments simply can’t afford the switch.
The money question is now before a federal court. A consolidated class action in Minnesota wants manufacturers including 3M and DuPont to cover the cost of replacement, and the documents cited in the suit show the companies knew about PFAS toxicity as far back as the 1960s and 70s while telling firefighters the gear was safe. The city of Quincy, Massachusetts also paid millions for gear advertised as PFAS-free, only for testing to find high PFAS levels anyway.
For Gulf Coast communities, the stakes are practical. Local departments already balance hurricane preparedness and tight budgets, and a mandate to replace every set of gear would land on taxpayers unless the lawsuit shifts the cost to manufacturers. Fire unions and municipalities are watching the Minnesota case closely because it could set the standard for who pays nationwide. Should manufacturers foot the bill for gear they sold as safe, or should local taxpayers? Tell us what you think.
