Fire Unions Sue Manufacturers Over Toxic Gear Costs

Five class action lawsuits filed by cities and towns have been consolidated into a single case in Minnesota. The litigation targets more than a dozen companies that manufacture fire-resistant gear or the materials used to make it. Plaintiffs argue these manufacturers knew for decades that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, posed health risks but continued to market the chemicals as safe.

PFAS are man-made chemicals designed to resist heat and fire. They are commonly found in the foam used to extinguish aviation fires and in the turnout gear worn by firefighters daily. Court documents show that manufacturers, including 3M and DuPont, internally labeled PFAS as toxic as early as the 1960s and 1970s. By the 1980s, records indicate both companies began moving women of child-bearing age away from certain assignments to limit exposure. In the 1990s, internal studies linked PFAS to cancer.

Jennifer Sclar, an attorney representing fire unions and municipalities on the East Coast, stated that defendants understood the dangers of PFAS long before the risks became public knowledge. The legal team contends that the companies told firefighters not to worry about the chemicals while knowing the information was incorrect. The goal of the consolidated case is to compel manufacturers to pay for the replacement of existing gear.

Replacing the current equipment is expensive. Chris Albani, a Connecticut firefighter and union representative, estimates that a baseline set of pants and a jacket costs up to $3,000. When adding helmets and gloves, the total cost per member ranges from $5,000 to $8,000. For a department of 200 people, the financial burden becomes substantial for local taxpayers.

A national survey conducted by InvestigateTV found that half of the responding fire chiefs have not switched to new gear because their municipalities cannot afford the cost. Many departments still use equipment that contains PFAS. A 2020 study by Notre Dame confirmed high levels of PFAS in both new and used turnout gear, noting that the chemicals could leach out and soak into skin.

Trust in manufacturers has eroded due to recent testing failures. In 2025, the Quincy, Massachusetts fire department purchased new gear labeled as PFAS-free. Independent tests conducted that same year revealed high levels of the chemicals. The manufacturer stated in a public statement that it eliminated PFAS from all textiles the same year Quincy bought its gear and that the chemicals were not intentionally added. Mayor Thomas Koch called the discovery outrageous.

Ed Kelly, who leads the International Association of Fire Fighters, the nation's largest fire union, said manufacturers must pay for the replacement gear. He noted that the new equipment requires independent testing to ensure it does not contain PFAS or other harmful substances. Firefighters across the country are now waiting for gear that protects them without introducing new health risks.