CALISTOGA, CA – OCTOBER 12: Firefighters try to extinguish a house fire during the Tubbs Fire on October 12, 2017 near Calistoga, California. At least thirty one people have died in wildfires that have burned tens of thousands of acres and destroyed over 3,500 homes and businesses in several Northern California counties. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
More than 170 fire departments across Massachusetts are sharing $920,000 in state grants for equipment intended reduce firefighters' exposure to cancer-causing chemicals.
The Firefighter Turnout Gear Grant program will provide firefighters in 144 departments with new hoods and gloves. These will reduce exposure to cancer-causing chemicals in the head and hand areas, About 3,000 hoods and 3,000 pairs of gloves will be purchased with the $500,000 grant.
Through the Washer-Extractor Equipment Grant, $420,000 was awarded to 75 departments for equipment to clean their gear after exposure to smoke and other toxic chemicals.
Forty-five fire departments were successful in applying for both grants.
"Cleaning firefighting gear is not a long-standing tradition in the fire service," said Needham Fire Chief Dennis Condon, president of the Fire Chiefs' Association of Massachusetts. "Soot and ash-laden gear was once the mark of a seasoned firefighter, but we now know that washing gear after every exposure to smoke is the safest thing to do."
Replacing old and damaged gear is a financial challenge for most every department in the state, Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey said.
"These grant awards will ensure that a significant number of firefighters have access to hoods and gloves that will effectively protect them from exposure to dangerous contaminants," he said.
