More and more fire services - large and small - are switching to PFAS free turnout gear
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More and more fire services - and not just large career stations - are switching to gear free of the potentially cancer causing agent PFA.
Western Canadian Esquimalt Fire Rescue has become the first fire department on Vancouver Island to fully transition to PFAS‑free turnout gear, a move aimed at reducing firefighters’ long‑term cancer risk, the Township of Esquimalt announced this week.
PFAS—per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances—have been widely used in firefighting gear for decades because of their heat and water resistance. However, growing scientific evidence has linked repeated PFAS exposure to elevated cancer rates, prompting fire services across North America to seek safer alternatives. The Township noted that many cancers are now formally recognized as work‑related under provincial presumptive legislation.
“Cancer remains the leading occupational threat to firefighters,” Fire Chief Matt Furlot said, calling the transition “an important and proactive step to reduce long‑term exposure to harmful chemicals, while maintaining the highest standards of protection on the fireground”.
According to the Times Colonist, 90% of firefighter line‑of‑duty deaths in B.C. are linked to cancer, and some studies suggest firefighters may carry up to 300 times more PFAS chemicals in their bodies than the general population.
A Carefully Tested Next‑Generation Gear
Esquimalt council approved the purchase of the new gear in November 2024, providing supplemental funding as PFAS‑free materials became commercially viable. Delivery took longer than expected as manufacturers refined the fabrics to ensure they met or exceeded national safety and performance standards for structural firefighting.
Furlot said the delay reflected “the care taken by manufacturers to ensure the gear performs at the highest level for our firefighters”.
A Regional Shift Begins
Esquimalt is only the second department in British Columbia—after Vancouver—to fully eliminate PFAS from its turnout gear, though others are beginning the transition. Victoria Fire Department has already received several PFAS‑free sets and plans to expand adoption as older gear reaches end‑of‑life.
This decision puts the township fire service ahead of the British Columbia's nearby capital Victoria.
The rollout aligned with Firefighters Cancer Awareness Week, part of a broader national effort to reduce toxic exposures through improved equipment, decontamination practices, and early screening.
Esquimalt Fire Rescue says it hopes its move will encourage other departments on Vancouver Island to follow suit in the coming years.
Photo Credit: Esquimalt firefighters pose for a picture in their new PFAS-free gear. Jan. 6, 2025. (Photo provided by the Township of Esquimalt)
Further reading:
https://cheknews.ca/esquimalt-firefighters-become-first-on-vancouver-island-to-…
https://www.cdnfirefighter.com/esquimalt-council-approves-purchase-of-pfas-free…
https://victoriabuzz.com/2026/01/esquimalt-firefighters-outfitted-with-first-pf…?
https://vancouverislandfreedaily.com/2026/01/06/esquimalt-firefighters-transiti…?
https://islandsocialtrends.ca/esquimalt-firefighters-get-pfas-free-turnout-gear
https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/new-gear-aimed-at-reducing-cancer-risk…?