The billion-dollar problem in firehouses: Potentially toxic gear, tight budgets and a fight over who pays to replace it

(InvestigateTV) — When a vintage B-17 bomber went down during a living history flight at Bradley International Airport in 2019, the response put firefighter and Connecticut fire union representative Chris Albani right in the thick of it. After racing to the scene, it was his job to coat the wreckage with a special foam used to quickly smother airplane fires. That foam contains PFAS — man-made, toxic chemicals touted for their ability to resist heat and fire. They’re a lifesaver in aviation disasters, but also a health hazard, with studies linking PFAS to cancer. Those chemicals that put him at risk aren’t limited to the foam Albani uses in a crisis. PFAS has also been found in the specialized equipment he and thousands of other first responders wear daily on the job. “It’s in the gear,” Albani said. “It’s the PFAS that is intentionally put in the gear. And it’s poisoning members.” And court documents show the manufacturers have known for decades that PFAS are toxic but kept that inform