Quincy city councilors voted unanimously to replace all fire department gear after elevated levels of PFAS were found

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.

| BETTER EVERY SHIFT: Gordon Graham shares words of wisdom

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.

The pilot and copilot were killed after an Air Canada regional jet struck a fire truck crossing a runway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport

Valley Regional Fire & Rescue in Butler Township started “116-The Frequency” to connect with residents, highlight local leaders and give listeners a closer look at firehouse life

Goldsby firefighters Todd Pendleton and Bryan Jenkins died when their tanker left the road and struck a tree while they were responding to a structure fire

The Ohio State Fire Marshal awarded grants to departments across the state as part of a $14.5 million fire service funding cycle

Using a large national EMS dataset, the report delivers a data-driven snapshot of clinical, operational and workforce trends to inform decision-making and system improvement

February 23, 2026 02:07 PM