On July 22, 2026, Quincy Fire Department officials and union leaders celebrated the deployment of 810 sets of new, non-PFAS protective equipment for their firefighters. The move comes after testing revealed dangerously high levels of “forever chemicals” in their previous gear – a situation many departments across the country are facing. What Happened in Qunicy … Read more
It’s tempting to save money on gloves. After all, they’re just one small part of your ensemble, right? Unfortunately, cheap gloves can end up costing you far more than premium ones – in comfort, performance, and even safety. What You’re Actually Getting with Cheap Gloves The Hidden Costs What to Look For in Quality Gloves … Read more
Key Differences You Need to Know in 2026 Not all turnout gear is created equal. The gear you wear for a structure fire is very different from what you wear on a wildland incident – and choosing the wrong one can compromise both safety and performance. Here’s a clear breakdown of the major differences. Structural … Read more
On June 24, 2026, the U.S. Forest Service and Department of the Interior announced a significant policy change: federal wildland firefighters are now authorized to use N95 respirators on the fireline after completing formal training. This includes operations in both traditional wildland and wildland-urban interface (WUI) environments. This marks the first time N95 use has … Read more
If you buy, use, or specify protective equipment, understanding certification is one of the most important skills you can have. A certification mark on a piece of gear is supposed to mean it has been independently tested and meets a specific safety standard. But not all marks are equal, and not everything labeled “certified” actually … Read more
Last week (June 9–10, 2026), the Structural and Proximity Firefighting Protective Clothing and Equipment Technical Committee held a Pre-First Draft Meeting for NFPA 1970(1971) at their headquarters in Quincy, Massachusetts. This meeting kicked off the next revision cycle for the consolidated standard covering structural and proximity firefighting protective ensembles, station wear, SCBA, and PASS devices. … Read more