Fire departments concerned about cancer risks are switching to gear free of toxic PFAS chemicals

(29 Aug 2025)

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4599864

RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
East Providence, Rhode Island – 3 July 2025
1. Tracking shot of an East Providence fire engine rushing to respond to an emergency call

ASSOCIATED PRESS
East Providence, Rhode Island – 8 July 2025
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Chief Michael Carey, East Providence Fire Department:
++COVERED++
"We're the first fire department in the country, I'm told from the manufacturer, that replaced 100% of our fire gear to remove PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) and halogenated products out of our gear."

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Barrington, Rhode Island – 8 July 2025
3. Wide of a house fire that drew in firefighters from several towns, including East Providence
4. Tilt up, close up of firefighters at work at an active fire scene, including an East Providence firefighter clad brown turnout gear whose manufacturer says contains no carcinogenic forever chemicals known Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, or PFAS

ASSOCIATED PRESS
East Providence, Rhode Island – 8 July 2025
5. East Providence Fire Chief Michael Carey standing outside a fire station
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Chief Michael Carey, East Providence Fire Department:
++PARTIALLY COVERED++
"As soon as I knew the numbers when it (the new, PFAS-free turnout gear) came out of UL (Underwriters Laboratories) testing, I felt like somebody just took a building off my shoulders because it's always been in the back of my head."

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Barrington, Rhode Island – 8 July 2025
7. Barington firefighters clad in legacy turnout gear infused with PFAS interact while working to put out a blaze at a home

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Quincy, Massachusetts – 21 August 2025
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Edward Kelly, General President, International Association of Fire Fighters: ++PARTIALLY COVERED++
"Cancer is the leading cause of death in firefighters. And we know that PFAS is a carcinogen. It causes various types of cancers."

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Barrington, Rhode Island – 8 July 2025
9. East Providence firefighters taking a break at a fire scene in a neighboring town

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Barrington, Rhode Island – 8 July 2025
10. An East Providence firefighter clad in brown turnout gear whose manufacturer says does not contain PFAS works alongside colleagues clad in legacy gear at a fire scene

ASSOCIATED PRESS
East Providence, Rhode Island – 3 July 2025
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Lt. Nicholas Bedard, East Providence Fire Department:
++PARTIALLY COVERED++
"We received the new gear in June and not even 12 hours later we responded to a fire and it was a relief to know that out of all the chemicals that we have to deal with in a fire that we don't have to worry about the chemical that our gear is made out of."

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Barrington, Rhode Island – 8 July 2025
12. Close up of an East Providence firefighter working alongside colleague from Barrington to put out a blaze in the neighboring town

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Raleigh, North Carolina – 8 August 2025
13. Pan of Prof. Bryan Ormond showing a researcher demonstrating properties of a fabric treated with PFAS at North Carolina State University’s Textile Protection And Comfort Center
UPSOUND (English) Prof. Bryan Ormond, North Carolina State University: "This is a ... a PFAS-treated fabric."
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Prof. Bryan Ormond, North Carolina State University:
++PARTIALLY COVERED++
15. Various close-up shots of the demonstration of water-repellent properties of a fabric treated with PFA
16. Wide of signage at Ormond’s laboratory at the Textile Protection And Comfort Center






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