The San Francisco Fire Department has become the largest fire department in the United States to fully transition to non-PFAS turnout gear for all frontline firefighters.
The new gear was funded in part through a 2.35 million dollar Assistance to Firefighters Grant from FEMA, along with matching funds from the department. The move reflects growing efforts across the fire service to identify safer alternatives to PFAS chemicals in protective equipment.
Partnership With Milliken and Fire-Dex
The department worked with Milliken & Company and turnout gear manufacturer Fire-Dex to deliver the new equipment. The first shipment arrived this month, with plans to distribute 1,100 full gear sets by December 31, 2025. Each frontline suppression member will receive one complete set.
San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen said the transition supports the department’s long-term commitment to firefighter health and safety. He noted that moving away from PFAS-based gear is a critical step in ensuring firefighters remain healthy and able to serve their communities.
Ahead of a National First PFAS Ban
The transition follows a city ordinance passed in May 2024 that made San Francisco the first city in the United States to ban PFAS chemicals in firefighter turnout gear. While the ordinance set a compliance deadline of June 30, 2026, the department completed its selection and procurement process well ahead of schedule.
Department officials evaluated multiple solutions before selecting the final gear.
Rigorous Testing and Certification
The selected turnout gear underwent extensive performance and safety testing. This included a 90-day wear trial involving 50 firefighters during live fire training exercises at the San Francisco Division of Training burn rooms.
The gear is UL certified and meets NFPA 1971 standards for both 2018 and 2025.
Solving the Moisture Barrier Challenge
While non-fluorinated materials have been available for turnout gear outer shells and thermal liners, finding a non-PFAS moisture barrier had been a key challenge for the industry.
That gap was addressed in October 2024 with the introduction of Milliken Assure™, the first non-PFAS, non-halogenated flame-resistant moisture barrier in North America. The technology enabled Fire-Dex to deliver gear that met all performance, weight, and breathability requirements.
Marcio Manique, SVP and Managing Director of Milliken’s apparel business, said the goal was to meet strict safety standards without introducing new hazards or compromising comfort.
Fitting and Distribution
SFFD worked with MES Life Safety to place the order with Fire-Dex and to size each firefighter individually for the new turnout gear.
Milliken and Fire-Dex have collaborated for more than a decade on firefighter protective solutions, with a focus on U.S.-based research and manufacturing.
Fire-Dex Vice President of Sales Jeff Koledo said the company is proud to support the department with turnout gear that meets evolving safety and performance expectations.
Serving San Francisco
The San Francisco Fire Department serves a population of approximately 1.5 million people across 49 square miles. As the tenth largest fire department in the country, SFFD operates 45 stations and responds to an average of 180,000 emergency calls each year.
