Stories from February 23, 2026

The U.S. Forest Service has ceased distributing wildland firefighter pants containing PFAS "forever chemicals" and will require future gear to be PFAS-free, following a ProPublica investigation. The agency had previously issued these garments despite knowing one supplier used PFAS finishes for water and gasoline repellency. While municipal fire departments have largely moved away from PFAS due to health concerns, wildland agencies have been slower to address the issue. This move aims to protect firefighters from potential health risks associated with the chemicals and aligns with evolving safety standards.