The new gear will bring the Amherst Fire Department into compliance with a new Massachusetts law that bans the manufacture and sale of fire gear containing PFAS.
AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP)– The Amherst Fire Department (AFD) has been awarded funds to purchase new protective firefighting gear.
The Assistance to Firefighter Grants Program is a program offered through FEMA. The AFD will receive $297,090 to replace old and worn-out turnout coats and trousers. Some of the gear in use now does not meet current safety standards under the National Fire Protection Association, some of which contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or “forever chemicals” which are linked to an increased risk of cancer and other health effects.
The cost for the gear is $4,500 per set and the department has been slowly replacing items based on their annual budget. The grant funding will allow for the purchase of new sets of protective gear for all members of the Fire Department including the Permanent Force, Call Force, and Student Force.
Each member will receive two different sets of gear, with one set for firefighting and a second alternative set for non-structure fire duties such as medical calls, vehicle accidents, technical rescue, brush fires, and most training. Having two sets of gear will reduce wear and extend the life of the garments.
“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.”
“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.”
The new gear will bring the AFD into compliance with a new Massachusetts law that 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.
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