Vancouver firefighters to get new gear, free of ‘forever chemicals’

Firefighters in Vancouver are going to be the first in North America to get a gear upgrade that protects them from carcinogenic chemicals

On Tuesday morning, Vancouver city council approved a motion to grant Vancouver Fire Rescue Services a one-time budget increase of $2,825,000 to help purchase new “bunker gear.”

The new gear will be free of Per-and-Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” which have been proven to contribute to the incidence of cancer in firefighters. Historically, structural firefighting bunker gear is composed of three layers: an outer shell, a thermal liner, and a moisture barrier. While PFAS products were phased out of the two most outer layers of VFRS bunker gear in early 2021, the moisture barrier layer still widely contains PFAS.

“Given skin contact with PFAS in the moisture barrier component of their gear, firefighters are subject to exposure through daily use and in periods of extreme heat conditions combined with high physical exertion,” the motion reads.

“Studies have linked the absorption of PFAS chemicals from bunker gear to cancer risk and other adverse health effects related to behavioural development, metabolism, and the circulatory, digestive, endocrine, immune, neurological, and reproductive systems.”

The motion states the impact to reproductive systems is of particular concern, as the workforce continues to strive toward gender diversity.

Since 2017, Vancouver Fire has lost 34 of its members from work-related cancer. Within the department, 20 per cent of occupational claims are for presumptive cancers.

Lee Lax, vice-president of Vancouver Fire Fighters’ Union, IAFF Local 18, says the new gear could play a critical role in protecting the city’s first responders.

“Cancer is one of the number one killers of firefighters and it’s directly attributed to the work they do protecting their communities,” he told city council.

“Getting us out of this gear is one of the many steps that will help us in our continued work to improve the health and wellness of our members, your firefighters.”

Fire Chief Karen Fry says the new gear will start rolling in over the next four to six months, with the goal of having the entire department outfitted in the new gear by January.

“We are in the front of the line in North America for this, so we are holding spots in the production,” Fry said.

Council passed the motion unanimously, with many councillors voicing their previous ignorance to the issue and their eagerness to see firefighters get this gear as soon as possible.