San Francisco is considering an ordinance that would prohibit the city fire department from using turnout gear that contains PFAS.
The ordinance, still to be introduced, mandates the removal of PFAS-laden layers from San Francisco’s firefighting gear by June 30, 2026, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The city anticipates an estimated $10 million expenditure for gear replacement, supplemented by a $2.3 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
This move follows a collaborative effort between the city and the firefighters union, which last year explored alternatives to PFAS-containing gear.
Concerns over cancer among firefighters in San Francisco are pronounced, with over 300 deaths attributed to cancer among current and former firefighters in the past decade, along with significant cancer diagnoses, the Chronicle reports.
