In a narrow 5-4 vote Monday night, Quincy city councilors left a $2.6 million request for new firefighter turnout gear stuck in committee, infuriating firefighters and union leaders who had lobbied hard for an immediate purchase. The Koch administration had asked for two full sets of PFAS-free gear for every firefighter after independent lab testing flagged so-called "forever chemicals" in gear the city had already bought.
Council Puts $2.6 Million Gear Plan on Ice
The funding package, which city officials said would cover two complete sets of turnout gear for the department, failed to move out of committee in the split vote, drawing audible reactions from the crowd. Councilors said they were wrestling with budget pressures and lingering doubts about whether PFAS-free gear can meet required performance standards, as reported by CBS Boston. The item appeared on the council’s March 16 agenda, according to the City of Quincy.
Independent Tests Flagged "Forever Chemicals"
City officials pressed for replacements after an independent lab found measurable PFAS in one of 30 turnout suits the city had purchased and marketed as PFAS-free. Notre Dame researcher Graham Peaslee told reporters the level he measured was "approaching a 10th of a percent," which he described as more than a trace amount. Safety Components, the supplier identified in earlier coverage, has said it stopped using fluorinated chemistries and disputes the city’s reading of the test results, according to GBH. City officials say more suits have been sent out for testing while Quincy looks for alternatives with verified PFAS-free credentials.
Unions Demand Immediate Action
Local union president Tom Bowes said firefighters were left "frustrated" by the council’s decision, pointing to active and retired members who have faced what the union describes as occupational cancers. Advocacy groups and partner foundations have urged departments to insist on independent lab verification rather than relying on marketing claims, and trade outlets have documented cases in which departments bought gear labeled "PFAS-free" only to later learn it was contaminated. FireRescue1 reported Bowes’ comments, and the International Association of Fire Fighters says studies have found PFAS in all three layers of turnout gear and recommends precautionary steps to reduce exposure. IAFF
Science, Standards and a No-Win Problem
The standoff puts immediate health concerns up against doubts about whether current PFAS-free fabrics can pass National Fire Protection Association tests and hold up on real firegrounds. Critics argue that certain performance standards, such as extended UV exposure tests, effectively lock in the use of fluorinated chemicals, a controversy detailed in investigative reporting on safety standards and industry influence. E&E News has examined those tensions, while federal guidance notes that long-term PFAS exposure has been linked to cancers and other serious health harms. For background on those risks, see the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s primer on PFAS. EPA
What Happens Next at City Hall
The council is expected to revisit the funding request at its next meeting while officials gather more lab results and updated cost estimates. Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch has said the city is reviewing its options and "will take a serious look" at possible remedies if suppliers misrepresented their products, according to earlier local reporting. CBS Boston reported that councilors plan to take up the issue again, and local coverage notes that the city has already sent additional suits out for testing. GBH
