Making History in PFAS Free Firefighting Gear
What an exciting day! On January 2nd, 2025, Alec Racioppi graduated from a 10-week foundational course at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s campus in Stow. During the course, Alec and thirty-three other recruits trained for various emergencies. In this course the students learned how to perform search and rescue, how to operate ladders and pumps, how to mitigate hazardous material incidents, and other important skills required of firefighters.
What distinguished Alec’s training from any others? Alec is the first student to have received his Massachusetts firefighting training while using PFAS free firefighting gear!
What are PFAS?
PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These man-made chemicals are found in many common items, including fire suppressing agents and firefighting gear. For many years firefighting gear has been made using these chemicals because they provide high-heat resistance and because of their ability to repel oil and water.
However, these chemicals are also known as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down over time. They can accumulate in the human body and lead to serious health problems, such as cancer. Firefighters are especially exposed to these dangerous chemicals. PFAS found in fire suppressing agents and on their gear adds another layer of danger to the already hazardous job of being a firefighter.
Breakthrough in PFAS Free Firefighting Gear
The graduation of Alec Racioppi using PFAS free gear was truly ground breaking! Using PFAS free materials in training and in active duty protects those self-sacrificing individuals who are helping our communities. They deserve the best materials possible to do their job safely and effectively.
The Chelmsford Fire Department said that Racioppi was not the only member of their team with PFAS-free gear. Over the summer, all firefighters in their department received a full set of such gear.
Also, effective January 2027, manufacturers and sellers of PPE for firefighters will be prohibited from knowingly selling gear containing PFAS, or products that break down into PFAS chemicals. This proposal will ensure the safety and well-being of firefighters throughout the state of Massachusetts.
We hope that soon many more states will join the movement to ban PFAS containing agents and thus protect the heroes that protect us. This is one way we can show appreciation for the service done by firefighters nationwide and around the world.
GreenFire and PFAS Free Firefighting Gear
At GreenFire our mission is to innovate and produce safe and effective fire defense and extinguishment products that exceed performance expectations, while safeguarding human health and the environment. We provide PFAS free, Food Environment Safe (NSF), and non-carcinogenic fire suppression products. Read more about what GreenFire is doing for our communities!
