QUINCY, Mass. — A packed crowd at Quincy City Hall applauded after city councilors voted unanimously on March 23 to replace all of the fire department’s gear in an effort to reduce their firefighters’ exposure to cancer-causing chemicals.
The vote comes after experts last summer found elevated levels of PFAS, known as “forever chemicals,” in firefighters’ gear, CBS Boston reported. Earlier in March, the department sought $2.6 million to buy two sets of new gear for all firefighters. But in a 5-4 vote, the City Council declined to advance the funding request out of committee. Officials have now approved replacing the equipment.
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City leaders had raised questions about the testing process and how officials can ensure the new gear will not present similar risks in the future.
“We have $1.6 billion worth of debt. We’re putting some safeguards in to say we’ll pay this down as fast as we can,” Council President Anne Mahoney said. “A city the size that we are, we shouldn’t have to bond the gear. They should have been able to get it last fall.”
Firefighters will continue to be fitted for new gear in the coming days and are expected to transition into it within the next two months.
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