Firefighters association files lawsuit about carcinogens in protective gear

DEDHAM, Mass. (WDEF) — The International Association of Fire Fighters filed a lawsuit against the National Fire Protection Association on Thursday. This is due to the cancer-causing substances in fire fighter gear.

The IAFF said that the NFPA played a role in creating a testing standard that requires carcinogens in protective gear.

The case is called “International Association of Fire Fighters v. National Fire Protection Association, Inc.” The lawsuit was filed in a Dedham, Massachusetts court.

IAFF said that toxic per-fluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances are in fire fighter bunker gear. They say these substances have been linked to cancer, and are the leading cause of fire fighter death.

“Nearly 75 percent of those honored at the 2022 Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial died of occupational cancer,” the IAFF said.