Did Your Department Purchase Firefighter Turnout Gear?

Your department or fire district may have a claim for reimbursement and replacement costs.

PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” have been used in firefighter protective clothing to repel water and oil, and some have been linked to cancer and other serious health effects. Litigation against 3M and other companies alleges that affected gear was sold without adequate disclosure of these risks.

This review concerns the organization that purchased the gear. It is not an individual firefighter personal-injury claim.

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Attorney Advertising. Erik H. Langeland, Langeland Law, New York, New York, and Jon A. Tostrud, Tostrud Law Group, P.C., Los Angeles, California. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

About this review

Why the gear itself is being questioned

Firefighters face chemical exposure from smoke and burning materials. This litigation concerns a separate potential source: chemicals used in manufacturing their protective clothing.

PFAS have been found in the outer shells, moisture barriers, and thermal liners of certain turnout gear. Their presence is not limited to contamination picked up while fighting fires.

The lawsuit alleges that affected gear exposes firefighters to PFAS and that manufacturers and suppliers failed to adequately disclose the risks. The extent of exposure and the health risks attributable specifically to turnout gear remain subjects of research.

A department does not need to have already replaced its gear to request a review.

The allegations described here are allegations only. They have not been proven, and no court has decided them. There is no guarantee of recovery; eligibility depends on the circumstances of the entity’s purchases.

What the claim seeks

Recovering the cost of affected gear

The goal is to recover money for affected gear already purchased and the cost of replacing it. Depending on the purchases and applicable claims, a department or fire district may seek:

Reimbursement for affected gear the entity purchased
Funding to replace affected gear with alternatives made without intentionally added PFAS

These are potential legal remedies, not an existing replacement program or guaranteed payment. Any recovery would depend on the facts and outcome of the claims.

Gear being reviewed

What may be covered

The review includes firefighter protective clothing such as:

Turnout coats
Turnout pants
Hoods
Firefighter socks
Protective undergarments

Brands and components associated with the litigation include 3M, DuPont, Fire-Dex, Globe/MSA, Gore, Innotex, Lion, Morning Pride/Honeywell. Not every product from a listed company necessarily qualifies. Purchase dates, product labels, materials, and other records can help the attorneys evaluate the gear.

You do not need to know whether the gear contains PFAS to request a review.

Replacement options are available

Replacing affected gear does not mean abandoning firefighter-protection standards

Manufacturers now offer turnout gear and components made without intentionally added PFAS, including options certified to applicable NFPA standards. Departments can evaluate the specific replacement configuration for thermal protection, moisture resistance, durability, fit, and operational needs.

The potential claim seeks to address the financial burden of replacing affected gear — not whether firefighters should accept reduced protection.

Who should contact the firms

Officials connected to a department that purchased gear

Officials connected to a city, county, township, or fire district that purchased firefighter gear. The firms are particularly interested in speaking with smaller departments and officials who can help arrange a prompt discussion about legal representation.

If another person or governing body must approve representation, the attorneys can discuss the necessary next steps.

The firms are currently seeking potential plaintiffs on a time-sensitive basis. Please contact them promptly if your department is interested.

Common questions

Questions departments ask

Does a firefighter need to have been diagnosed with cancer?: No. This review concerns the purchasing organization’s financial losses, not an individual firefighter’s diagnosis or personal-injury claim.
Does the gear need to have been replaced already?: No. You can request a review whether replacement is being considered, is underway, or has already occurred.
What if we do not know the manufacturer or PFAS content?: You can still inquire. Available invoices, purchase orders, photographs of labels, and equipment records may help identify the products.
Does submitting the form commit the department to a lawsuit?: No. The form requests a review. Any representation would require a separate agreement and the appropriate organizational approvals.

Discuss your department’s gear purchases

Find out whether your department or fire district may have a claim for the cost of affected firefighter gear and its replacement.