International Association of Fire Fighters President Edward Kelly announced Monday at a fire fighter training summit in Las Vegas that the union had retained three law firms to pressure regulators and manufacturers to remove PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, from protective equipment used in the field.
"The gear we depend on to keep us safe is killing us," Kelly said.
Kelly gestured to a set of gear worn by Las Vegas firefighters during his announcement.
"It's in all of the fabric that you see that is tan in this particular set of gear woven throughout," he said.
The IAFF believes the chemicals cause cancers like the kind Matthew Reddy was diagnosed with after 27 years of service.
"At 52 years old, I was diagnosed with testicular cancer," Reddy said. "It was shattering. Understand, you never think it's you. I'm a big strong kid. I have two boys and they look at me that way."