The fire is out. The crew is back at the station. The turnout gear may look dirty, or it may look surprisingly clean. Either way, appearance alone cannot tell you everything about what remains on or within a firefighter’s protective equipment.
Smoke, burning materials, and other fireground exposures can leave a mixture of substances on protective clothing. The exact contaminants depend on the incident, the materials involved, and the conditions firefighters encountered. Some can be reduced through appropriate cleaning, while others may be more difficult to remove through a particular process.
For fire chiefs, health and safety officers, and personal protective equipment (PPE) officers, the practical question is straightforward: what might remain on the gear, and how should the department respond?
Understanding the main categories of contamination helps departments make informed decisions about cleaning, handling, and when additional decontamination may be appropriate.
What contaminants can remain in firefighter turnout gear?
Firefighter turnout gear can encounter several categories of contaminants during emergency responses. These may include combustion-related chemicals, particulate matter, metals, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) associated with some protective materials.
Not every incident exposes gear to every category. Contamination also varies by material, equipment, and the conditions under which the gear was used.
The following categories help explain what departments should consider.
1. Chemicals produced by combustion
When buildings, furnishings, vehicles, plastics, and other materials burn, they can release complex mixtures of gases, particles, and chemical compounds.
The composition of that mixture depends on what burns and how it burns. A residential structure fire, vehicle fire, and wildland fire can produce different exposure profiles.
Some combustion-related chemicals can deposit on protective clothing or become associated with particles that settle on the gear. Depending on the substance and the cleaning process, residues may remain after an incident.
This is one reason departments should not rely on visible soot alone to assess contamination. The absence of obvious discoloration does not establish that a garment is free of hazardous substances.
#### Why the materials involved matter
Modern fires can involve synthetic furnishings, plastics, treated materials, fuels, and many other products. Their combustion can produce different substances, so there is no single contaminant profile that applies to every fire.
Departments should focus on consistent post-incident procedures and appropriate cleaning rather than trying to identify every possible chemical from the appearance of a garment.
2. Particulate matter and soot
Smoke contains particles that can settle on clothing and equipment. Soot is the visible residue associated with many fires, although not all contamination is visible.
Particles can accumulate on the outer surfaces of protective garments and may also become associated with seams, closures, and other parts of the equipment.
Appropriate cleaning can remove soil and reduce contamination. The extent of removal depends on the particles, the garment, and the cleaning method.
Soot can be a useful visual warning that gear needs attention, but it is not a complete measure of contamination. Gear that appears clean may still require cleaning based on the incident and the department’s procedures.
3. Metals and other inorganic contaminants
Fireground exposures may include metals and other inorganic substances originating from burning materials, building components, equipment, and other sources.
Whether a particular metal is present, and in what amount, depends on the incident. Departments should avoid assuming that every fire produces the same contaminants.
Research and testing of specialized cleaning processes have examined the removal of certain metals from firefighter protective equipment. However, results depend on the specific substance, process, and test conditions.
A general claim that a method removes one metal should not be interpreted as proof that it removes every metal or every other category of contamination.
4. Semivolatile organic compounds
Semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) are chemicals that can exist in both vapor and particle-associated forms under different conditions. Some can be produced during combustion and may be present in fireground contamination.
Their behavior depends on the particular compound, the materials involved, and environmental conditions. Some substances may associate with surfaces or particles rather than remaining entirely in the air.
This category is relevant when evaluating specialized cleaning methods because different compounds can respond differently to a cleaning process.
For example, Emergency Technical Decon (ETD) publishes testing results for its Liquid CO₂+ process that include removal of tested SVOCs. Those findings apply to the compounds and process evaluated; they should not be generalized to all SVOCs or every liquid carbon dioxide (CO₂) system.
5. PFAS associated with protective equipment
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, are a large group of chemicals used in a range of industrial and consumer applications.
Research from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has identified PFAS in structural firefighter turnout gear textiles and in other protective equipment, including gloves, hoods, and wildland firefighting textiles.
This introduces an important distinction: some contaminants can come from the fireground, while some substances may be present in the protective materials themselves.
The presence of PFAS in protective equipment raises questions about potential exposure. However, the health risks attributable specifically to PFAS in firefighter gear remain under investigation.
Departments should not assume that all PFAS are the same, that every piece of gear contains identical amounts, or that a particular cleaning process removes every PFAS compound. The relevant evidence must be specific to the substance, material, and treatment process.
How can contaminants move beyond the gear?
Contamination is not only an equipment problem. It can also become a handling and storage problem.
NIOSH explains that substances on turnout gear can transfer to firefighters’ skin, other equipment, and station areas. Some contaminants may also release vapors into the air after the incident. These pathways can create opportunities for exposure after firefighters have left the fireground.
Several everyday practices can help limit that spread:
- Gross decontamination: Follow established procedures to reduce surface contamination before removing gear.
- Careful removal: Use procedures that limit direct contact between skin and contaminated equipment.
- Separate transportation: Bag contaminated gear appropriately and keep it out of passenger compartments and personal vehicles.
- Dedicated storage: Keep contaminated equipment away from living areas, offices, and other spaces where people spend extended periods.
- Timely laundering: Prioritize cleaning exposed gear according to the department’s procedures and applicable requirements.
These measures address different stages of exposure control. None replaces appropriate cleaning, and cleaning alone does not address every possible exposure pathway.
Can routine washing remove these contaminants?
Routine washing is essential, but its performance depends on the substance being removed, the equipment, and the process.
NIOSH research has found that some contaminants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), can remain on turnout gear after typical cleaning procedures. Researchers have also studied how laundering conditions affect the removal of selected organic chemicals.
This research does not mean conventional washing is ineffective. It means cleaning performance should be evaluated rather than assumed.
For department leaders, the practical response is to maintain appropriate routine cleaning while understanding where additional treatment may be worth considering.
When should departments consider advanced decontamination?
Advanced decontamination may be appropriate when a department wants an additional option for addressing contaminants that can remain after conventional cleaning.
Liquid CO₂ decontamination is one available approach. Its performance depends on the specific system, process, and contaminants being evaluated.
Before selecting a provider, departments should ask:
- What contaminants have been tested?
- What removal results were measured?
- Which equipment and treatment process produced those results?
- Does the evidence apply to the gear being serviced?
- Does the process meet applicable equipment-care and program requirements?
A result demonstrated for one substance or system should not be generalized to every contaminant or every CO₂ technology.
What if a department cannot afford advanced decontamination?
The technical question is only part of the problem. Departments also need a realistic way to access services that fit their equipment and operational needs.
For some departments, the cost of advanced decontamination, transportation, and coordination can make access difficult. Smaller, rural, volunteer, and combination departments may face different constraints from larger agencies. Eligibility should depend on actual documented need, not assumptions about department type.
The Afterburn Foundation helps qualifying fire departments access advanced PPE decontamination when cost stands in the way.
Afterburn is an access and funding organization, not a manufacturer or cleaning facility. It connects documented department need with philanthropic funding and qualified independent service providers.
Its annual sponsorship model is built around a straightforward commitment:
$500. One firefighter. One year.
A $500 sponsorship provides one firefighter with one year of funded access to qualifying advanced PPE decontamination services. The standard annual model is designed around two advanced CO₂ decontamination cycles and one annual advanced inspection, with flexibility to fund services according to actual need.
Sponsorship funds are pooled, allowing services to vary according to equipment, exposure, geography, and logistics. The model funds annual access rather than promising identical services for every firefighter.
If your department is considering advanced decontamination but cost is a barrier, Afterburn offers a way to seek assistance.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common contaminants found in firefighter turnout gear?
Potential contaminants include soot, particulate matter, combustion-related chemicals, metals, and semivolatile organic compounds. PFAS may also be present in some protective textiles. The actual contaminants depend on the incident, equipment, and materials involved.
Can contaminants remain in turnout gear after washing?
Yes. Research has found that some contaminants can remain after typical laundering procedures. Cleaning performance varies by substance, garment, and process, so departments should follow applicable procedures and evaluate the evidence for their cleaning methods.
Can firefighter gear look clean but still be contaminated?
Yes. Appearance alone cannot establish that all hazardous substances have been removed. Departments should base cleaning decisions on exposure, equipment requirements, and established procedures rather than visible soil alone.
Does liquid CO₂ decontamination remove all contaminants?
No universal claim of complete removal is justified. Performance depends on the particular CO₂ system, treatment process, contaminant, and supporting test results. Departments should examine evidence specific to the service being considered.
Can Afterburn help a department pay for advanced decontamination?
Yes. The Afterburn Foundation helps qualifying fire departments access advanced PPE decontamination when cost stands in the way. Departments can apply for funding to have their needs evaluated.
Better decontamination shouldn’t depend on your department’s budget.
Afterburn helps qualifying fire departments access advanced PPE decontamination when cost stands in the way.
Help another department get access: Sponsor a Firefighter
