Quincy Fire Department adds showers to decontaminate firefighters

QUINCY, Mass. — As Quincy firefighters rush to put out the flames, there's another concern in the back of their minds.

"Quincy has lost a number of guys for occupational cancer," said Quincy Fire Lt. Mark Kennedy.

That story repeated at fire departments across the state. Flames are not the only threat firefighters face.

Cancer-causing agents released from building materials present a hidden danger.

"When something burns, there’s all kinds of chemical reactions and all kinds of chemicals being emitted, and they’re carrying them on their clothes and persons," Kennedy said.

Boston 25's Blair Miller has covered this issue extensively in his series, Boston's Bravest.

Quincy is now taking an extra safety step.

"Their turnout gear can go there. They’ll have clean clothes here in their lockers," said Paul Hines, Quincy Public Building Commissioner/

Walls are being built for showers, and more at all eight Quincy firehouses.

"It went from new gear and washing machines in the apparatus room to 'We should put showers in so they so they can decontaminate their person,'" Hines said.

Kennedy says the smell of a fire lingers.

"You come back from a fire and you smell it on you for days," Kennedy said.

Right now, protocol is to wash gear in the field, then bag it. But new washers, extractors and showers will make a world of difference, mentally and hopefully, physically, too.

“This is really good. We’ll be able to get all of our gear washed up and we can get washed up for the rest of the tour and get everything cleaned off of us," Kennedy said.

Cox Media Group