The room where the Prince Albert fire fighters keep their equipment. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

By Ian Gustafson

Necessary Steps

Protecting firefighters from risk of cancer

Nov 2, 2019 | 12:00 PM

Having dirty equipment is no longer a badge of honour for firefighters.

Over a long period of time the Prince Albert Fire Department have implemented ways to decontaminate after attending to calls as cancer cases among firefighters become more common, according to Fire Chief Kris Olsen.

Olsen said began his career at the fire department in 1995 a few years after they introduced the Nederman system.

The system is an exhaust extraction placed on the fire truck’s exhaust pipe. The air is filtered out of the building to prevent the harmful effects of exhaust to the firefighters.

“I would say this is our first kick at the can to address cleaning up our work environment,” Olsen said.

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The Nederman system, left, hooks up to the exhaust of the fire truck to filter out harmful gas. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

He said they also have been implementing ways to decontaminate themselves and their equipment of carcinogens

“The carcinogens, the atmospheres that you’re going into as a firefighter, they’re coming home with you and you’re not only bringing it home to the fire hall you’re taking it home to your family as well,” he said.

Olsen said that the decontamination process begins as soon the firefighters are done at a hazardous atmosphere such as a structure fire. The firefighters use the decontamination kit on scene to do a brief decontamination using brushes and a water hose with warm water on themselves and their equipment.

They will then come back to the fire hall and strip down their gear to eliminate the risk of contaminating other rooms at the fire hall, which will be later washed in a special extraction washer. The firefighters are also encouraged to shower as soon as they get back.

The washer is different than a household washer as it uses a high volume of water to clean all of the worn gear such as the balaclava, lining in the helmet, and jackets to name a few. The washer is new to the department as they just got it last spring.

“What we used to have was just a household washer and we found studies that prove these turnouts just weren’t coming out [clean],” he said.

The extraction washer, left, has a high volume of water to further clean equipment. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

He said not every firefighter has an extra set of gear but they’re working on changing that to make sure each firefighter has a fresh set of gear for the next call.

Olsen said firefighters used to take the gear up to their living areas which never happens now to avoid contamination.

They also have change out kits that contain an extra set of lining for helmets that absorb the carcinogens while on call as well as other interchangeable items.

“We know our biggest organ is our skin and the absorption rate is so high it depends on certain parts of your body,” Olsen said. “They come back from a call and they’ll strip this all out and this can be laundered. Back in the day you only got the one that came with your helmet and that was it.”

“We’re just trying to address why firefighters are three times more likely to get cancer.”

He said another step they’ve taken is updating their balaclavas, which cover the ears and neck area to protect the firefighters from particulates.

“That’s one more step we took to protect the guys,” Olsen said.

Despite the recent developments to keep firefighters healthy, Olsen said this has been something they’ve been addressing back to when he first started.

“I think its been known forever. It’s just that the studies and all the information wasn’t in as big of a problem as it actually was,” he said.

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Ian.gustafson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @iangustafson12