Amherst Fire Department Awarded FEMA Grant to Replace Protective Gear, Reduce Exposure to PFAS

Source: amherstma.gov

The Amherst Fire Department has been awarded $297,090 in grant funding to replace the protective gear for every member of the department. These funds are being distributed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a part of their Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) Program. 

“Receiving this grant is a significant step forward in ensuring the safety of our firefighters,” said Interim Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren. “Our personnel are what makes our department so valuable to our community and providing them with safe personal protective equipment is essential to our mission of protecting the community.” 

A 2023 internal review of Amherst’s fire protective gear found that approximately 65% of the firefighter’s turnout coats and trousers were past or nearing their 10-year service life or showed wear that required removal from service as they did not meet current safety standards. Besides needing new gear that meet safety standards set by the National Fire Protection Association, there is also increased concern with current gear containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or “forever chemicals” which are linked to an increased risk of cancer and other health effects. The department has been slowly replacing older gear using capital budget funds each year, however at approximately $4,500 per set they have only been able to replace a small quantity each year.   

Funding from this grant will be used to purchase new sets of protective gear for all members of the Fire Department including the Permanent Force, Call Force, and Student Force. Two different sets of gear will be purchased – one set of traditional structural turnout gear for firefighting and one set of alternative non-structural gear which can be worn for non-structure fire operations such as medical calls, vehicle accidents, technical rescue, brush fires, and most training. This concept of having alternative “non-structural gear” is very new to the industry and Amherst is an early adopter, having just purchased their first few sets this year. 

“We currently wear our structural firefighting gear, which contains PFAS, to virtually every call as it’s the only option,” said Interim Fire Chief Stromgren. “However, over 50% of our calls are non-fire so the alternative gear we are purchasing will be used when responding to calls where the level of protection provided by traditional turnout gear is not needed.” 

The lighter weight and increased mobility allowed by this alternative turnout gear will improve firefighters’ ease of operations and improve effectiveness at non-structure fire responses while also decreasing the level of thermal stress and PFAS exposure that comes from wearing traditional turnout gear. Additionally, use of the alternative turnout gear will significantly decrease the wear and tear on the traditional turnout gear and increase its longevity.  

“Securing this grant for new protective gear is not just an investment in equipment—it’s an investment in the lives of our firefighters who bravely put themselves on the front lines every day,” said Town Manager Paul Bockelman. “This not only enhances the safety and effectiveness of our first responders but also reflects our commitment to providing them with the resources they need to protect our community.”  

This grant funding supports Amherst leading the way in complying with recent legislation signed into law by Governor Maura Healey which aims to reduce firefighters’ exposure to PFAs. The new law bans the manufacture and sale of fire gear containing PFAS beginning in 2027 and now requires companies to disclose if they use the chemical in their protective equipment. 

Research indicates that environmental exposure to PFAS may be associated with negative health impacts for both humans and animals, as reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The findings and recommendations from the Massachusetts PFAS Interagency Task Force highlight that the widespread use of PFAS in firefighting foams and firefighter personal protective equipment can result in firefighters experiencing higher exposure to PFAS and higher rates of cancer diagnosis and cancer-related deaths than the general population. 

There is currently a lack of PFAS-free traditional turnout gear options on the market so the traditional gear purchased with this grant will still include some levels of PFAS, however it will be significantly less than what the current gear contains. In the future, the Fire Department will replace this traditional gear with PFAS-free gear when it becomes available. In the meantime, the implementation of this alternative turnout gear and other precautions will significantly reduce personnel from PFAS exposure. Precautions include not wearing traditional turnout gear in the firehouse living areas, not transporting gear in personal bags, and washing hands after handling the gear. 

The Amherst Fire Department provides comprehensive fire, rescue, EMS, and fire prevention services to the Town of Amherst, including the University of Massachusetts, Amherst College, and Hampshire College, as well as providing the primary EMS service to the neighboring communities of Leverett, Pelham, and Shutesbury. They also respond mutual aid for fire or EMS to any community in need in the three-county area (Hampshire, Franklin, Hampden Counties).

Learn more about the Amherst Fire Department.

The primary goal of FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program is to help meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations. Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

Learn more about the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program.