California lawmakers introduce bill to ban PFAs in firefighter gear

Two California lawmakers are working to remove a deadly chemical from firefighter gear.

Assembly Bill 1181 comes more than a year after a KCRA 3 investigation delved into PFAs, the chemical that permeates firefighter protective gear.

All firefighter gear contains what is known as forever chemicals, or PFAS, which are a known carcinogen. Layers of firefighter gear that crews use for going into a house fire have been found to contain it.

Now, two Assemblymembers from Pasadena and San Francisco are pushing to change that with AB 1181.

"They know they have to fight fires, they have to help us. But what they don't sign up for is putting on clothing and protective gear that gives them cancer. It's grotesque, and in a civilized society, we should be better," said John Harabedian, a democratic Assemblymember from Pasadena.

The bill has just been introduced and still needs to make its way through both houses of the legislature.

Research for new turnout gear reveals that cancer is the leading cause of death for firefighters.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel