U.S. Forest Service's Delayed Acknowledgment of PFAS in Wildland Firefighter Gear

The U.S. Forest Service was aware of the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as "forever chemicals," in the gear worn by wildland firefighters as early as 2021. Internal emails obtained by ProPublica reveal that officials were alerted to the issue but chose not to disclose this information to firefighters. PFAS have been linked to serious health risks, including certain cancers and developmental issues in children. Despite the known risks, the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior have provided vague responses regarding the presence of PFAS in firefighting gear, claiming they lacked specific data on the concentration of these chemicals.

Propublica

In early 2021, Congress mandated the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to investigate whether firefighting gear contained PFAS. By April 2021, a Forest Service equipment specialist inquired with TenCate, a supplier of firefighting gear, about the presence of PFAS in their fabric treatments. TenCate confirmed that its "Advance" fabric, used in some wildland firefighting pants, contained PFAS. A year later, in April 2022, Forest Service officials continued to discuss the implications of PFAS in their gear but decided to withhold information from firefighters until further studies were completed.

Propublica

Critics, including Riva Duncan, president of Grassroots Wildland Firefighters and a former Forest Service fire chief, have condemned the agency's lack of transparency regarding PFAS. Duncan stated that the agency has consistently failed to prioritize the health of its firefighters, noting that many wear their gear year-round. The reluctance to inform firefighters about potential health risks reflects a broader pattern of neglect regarding occupational safety.

Propublica

In response to inquiries about PFAS, the Forest Service stated, “The Forest Service is deeply committed to not only understanding occupational risks to employees but mitigating these risks.” However, the agency has not provided specific details about the PFAS issue or its implications for firefighter health. The Department of the Interior did not respond to questions regarding PFAS in firefighting gear.

Propublica

In January 2023, TenCate informed the Forest Service that it was developing a PFAS-free finish for its fabric. However, it remains unclear whether the Forest Service has begun purchasing this new gear. A NIST study released in 2024 confirmed that some wildland firefighting gear contained PFAS, with varying levels of contamination. The study did not disclose the specific companies involved, and the ongoing National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) study has yet to provide conclusive findings.

Propublica

While the NIST study indicated that some gear had notably high levels of PFAS, it did not specify which companies manufactured the contaminated gear. Additionally, the Forest Service's preparedness guide for incoming wildland firefighters, produced in 2022, failed to mention cancer risks, raising concerns about the agency's commitment to addressing health issues among its workforce.

Propublica

“From the wildland firefighting perspective, I don’t see any reason to have the PFAS treatments in their gear.” — Bryan Ormond, Associate Professor of Textile Engineering, North Carolina State University

Propublica

“They’ve known about this. They’ve known about other threats to health and well-being yet they have chosen to not be proactive and share the information with employees. It seems it’s only when they’re forced to provide information that we find out about it.” — Riva Duncan, President of Grassroots Wildland Firefighters

Propublica

“Can Tencate tell us whether or not this is hazardous to people that wear these garments?” — David Haston, Former Assistant Director of Operations, Forest Service

Propublica

“To the best of our knowledge wearing ADVANCE with Shelltite or Supershelltite has not caused deleterious health impacts,” — Senior Director, TenCate

Propublica