In an industry-first move that echoes the city's progressive environmental stance, San Francisco has announced that its fire department is now equipped with a fleet of non-PFAS turnout gear, making it the largest such department in the nation to do so. The San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) has made this significant switch with the aid of a $2.35 million Assistance to Firefighters Grant from FEMA and matching funds from the department's own budget. The absence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from their gear is a critical shift, as these chemicals are well-known for their potential health risks, including cancer, according to the San Francisco Fire Department.
Comprising 1,100 sets of the new non-PFAS turnout gear, every frontline suppression member will be receiving one of these sets by the end of December 2025. As a city that usually sets trends when it comes to adopting eco-friendly policies, this commitment was a natural step for San Francisco. In a social media post, Daniel Lurie, a proponent of the city's health and safety measures, emphasized San Francisco's duty to safeguard its firefighters with state-of-the-art gear and expanded cancer screenings, giving them the best because they give their best to the city.
San Francisco is now the largest city in the country with a fire department fully free of PFAS. PFAS are dangerous chemicals that are found in firefighter gear and have long been linked to cancer. San Francisco will continue to protect our firefighters with safe gear and expanded… pic.twitter.com/o1hVvlIz2a
— Daniel Lurie 丹尼爾·羅偉 (@DanielLurie) December 11, 2025
Fire Chief Dean Crispen expressed the department's dedication to the well-being of SFFD members. "As the San Francisco Fire Department continues to lead in innovation, we remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the health and safety of our members," Crispen stated, per the San Francisco Fire Department. He highlighted the collaborative effort behind this move, including elected leaders, the SF Firefighters IAFF Local 798, the SF Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation, and manufacturers Milliken & Company and Fire-Dex. "This distribution represents more than new gear, it reflects a strong, coordinated effort among the Fire Department," said Chief Crispen in his address.
