Historically dirty personal protective equipment (PPE) was a rite of passage; a sign of hard work completed. Probationary firefighters would start their careers and witness the soot filled helmets and dirty bunker gear and reflect in awe. The reality is, however, that every year 50 to 60 Canadian firefighters die from cancer. It is imperative that post decontamination practices, such as preliminary exposure reduction (PER) are developed, implemented and adhered to. These practices must also include PPE cleaning and turnout gear laundering as soon as possible after an incident. These measures are an important way to mitigate risks posed by contaminated gear.
Workers’ compensation claim data suggests that cancer is the leading cause of occupational mortality among firefighters. The BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit determined that 85 per cent of work-related fatality claims of firefighters between 2007 and 2021 in Canada were cancer-related. Firefighters are exposed to a variety of toxins when synthetic fibers such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) burn, hence the necessity of on-scene decontamination and PER (utilizing air, brushes or water) and timely proper cleaning of turnout gear (laundering using extractors) process.
Current statistics indicate that PER using the wet-soap method reduces carcinogenic exposures by a median of 85 per cent present on turnout gear after fire fighting (Craig A. Haigh, fire chief, Hanover Park, Ill., and National Institute of Medicine). When using the wet-soap method it is important to ensure the environmental impact is considered by capturing contaminated runoff should it be required. Contaminated runoff can be captured in shallow hazmat pools and pumped into totes for proper disposal at a later time.
Further reduction of contamination can be achieved by having policies or procedures in place for mitigating contaminated gear on scene after doing PER as well as having a process in place for transporting contaminated gear back to either the department’s laundry facilities or a pickup location for an Independent Service Provider (ISP) who does the extracting. In an ideal world, dispatching a decontamination vehicle capable of providing a dry isolated environment for all seasons where firefighters can isolate helmets, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), gloves and boots for transport from the scene directly minimizing the spread of contaminants to vehicles, stations and minimizing exposure time. A decontamination vehicle allows responders to remove their turnout gear in an environment that is climate controlled (warm in the winter, cooler in the summer) and provides privacy on scene. In some case departments utilize a vehicle where turnout gear can be exchanged for clean gear; however contaminated gear will still need to be transported to the department’s laundry service or ISP.
Once the contaminated gear is isolated, it is critical to have a bag and tag system to reduce further contamination while en route to the department’s laundry facility or ISP. A bag and tag system allows firefighters on scene to separate their gear, turn liners inside out and bag contaminated gear, place a tag on the bag which identifies the firefighter by their station, identifies the call number and type of contaminant the gear was exposed to. This system will also assist with tracking exposures, if necessary.
As a firefighter and now maintenance coordinator I have been present at many fires and have witnessed the evolution of my own department’s decontamination processes. The maintenance division’s responsibility is to develop and implement robust plans and processes to ensure the health and safety of firefighters based on new and innovative techniques all while being fiscally responsible. Ottawa Fire Services (OFS) is the largest composite fire service in Canada. OFS is unique as it covers 2790 square kilometers with 950 full time professional firefighters and 488 volunteer firefighters, it is both geographically and logistically challenging. OFS has the ability to launder its own bunker gear and uses an ISP for annual hydrostatic testing, repairs and in some cases, they launder our gear when we are over capacity. PER and laundering turnout gear removes approximately 70 per cent of VOC and heavy metals and 99.95 per cent of biohazards. Both the ISP and OFS in-house laundry facilities utilize commercial extractors.
Currently drying is completed in tumble dryers but OFS will be transitioning to a hang dry or cabinet dryer system to meet the new NFPA 1851 standard. OFS laundry facility is an isolated room with negative pressure ventilation. During the washing process, members must be wearing gowns, eye protection, gloves and either a N95 or APR for protection against contamination by inhalation, absorption or ingestion. All members are trained and must comply with department policies regarding OFS decontamination procedures. The goal is to reduce further contamination and exposure.
Department chiefs, division chiefs and suppression staff must work cohesively and collaboratively to coordinate the efforts necessary to ensure safe practices are in place and followed. As Ret. Captain Mark VonAppen aptly pointed out in his lecture at FDIC 2025, “firefighters hate two things, the ways things are and change.” For new practices to be implemented and adopted consistently there must be buy-in. Firefighters must understand why this is a good thing and how it will benefit them. It is leadership’s responsibility to educate, facilitate and lead by example. Regardless of position, all fire service leaders are obligated to ensure staff are educated, help to facilitate positive change and lead by example.
Moving forward, the new NFPA 1850 Standard on Selection, Care, Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting will be a consolidation of NFPA 1851 and 1852. This new standard will streamline the guidelines for equipment management and will highlight the introduction of a PPE technician and PPE manager. The introduction of these new positions will aid in management of turnout gear as it relates to the new NFPA 1850 standard, including tracking of turnout gear repairs and cleaning. It will also provide an opportunity for fire services that do not currently have robust policies and practices in place, to look developing or evolving the service’s PER programs.
Ultimately the goal of having a policy and procedure with systems in place is to negate and reduce the amount of exposure firefighters are subject to. This exposure reduction is not limited to only suppression fire fighters but will include all staff who participate in suppression activities, fire investigations as well as those who are responsible for PPE cleaning and repair; essentially anyone who is subjected or exposed to byproducts of combustion.
Captain Koert Winkel is a 19 year veteran with Ottawa Fire Services. Having served 18 years as a suppression fire fighter, he recently adopted the role of maintenance coordinator in charge of logistics and procurement.
