Savannah firefighters push for cancer screening amid forever chemical concerns

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Savannah’s fire department has changed uniform regulations to limit exposure to PFAs, or forever chemicals, found in firefighter gear. The Savannah Professional Firefighters Association is now asking for enhanced medical screening to detect related cancers earlier.

In 2020, a researcher at Notre Dame published a discovery of PFAs in firefighter gear. The findings have linked the gear’s usage to increased cancer rates in the industry. An InvestigateTV report found that many departments cannot afford new or improved gear due to cost, and some deny the studies altogether.

Chemicals used for heat resistance

PFAs are used to make gear more heat resistant and water repellent.

“But what it also does is seep into our pores when we sweat when we’re working,” said Johnny Hinton, Savannah Professional Firefighters Association Director.

The link between forever chemicals and cancer has been studied. Cancer is the leading cause of death in firefighting, according to Hinton, and Savannah has not been an exception.

“We lost our first member of occupational cancer actually 10 years ago today. Chief Howell died of brain cancer in 2016, since then we’ve lost four members to occupational cancer with a fifth that was just diagnosed within the last month,” Hinton said.

Department changes uniform rules

Savannah Fire Chief Derik Minard said the information changed the firefighter lifestyle.

“Firefighters used to live in their bunker gear,” Minard said. “We wore it everywhere, to the grocery store, to public events, not understanding this issue with the gear.”

On July 24, the department signed new uniform regulations to limit exposure to PFAs.

“Firefighter health and safety is #1, I mentioned things we have to do on scene and now we have to do it with our gear,” Minard said.

Hinton said he is asking for a new annual screening that directly targets PFAs levels in a firefighter’s equipment.

“We really want to focus on enhanced medical screenings and detecting these cancers earlier so that a 30-year retired firefighter doesn’t get diagnosed a month after retirement with a severe cancer,” Hinton said.

Testing PFAs-free gear

One evolving long-term solution is PFAs-free gear. Savannah purchased two sets last winter to test, and Minard said it is only the beginning.

“We’ve actually added in the funds for that type of gear, so when we’re ready to make that move we make that move,” Minard said.

Savannah is ahead of many fire departments with its regulations. The InvestigateTV report cited that half of the fire departments contacted did not have funding for new equipment. Minard said the city is willing to spend the money, which is just under a $2 million purchase. The department is waiting to confirm the PFAs-free uniforms will provide proper protection.