Canada/Montreal invests in decontaminating firefighters' clothing

With the aim of reducing the risks to firefighters exposed to carcinogenic substances in the course of their work, the Ville de Montréal announced on Thursday investments in the maintenance and renewal of protective clothing for Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal (SIM) personnel.

A total of $6.4 million will be invested between now and the end of 2025 to implement immediate improvements, and $3.2 million per year starting inmillion per year starting in 2026 to gradually replace clothing, which has an average lifespan of 10 years, according to CNESST standards.

These amounts will also be used to maintain the washers and vehicles, maintain additional staff and purchase the supplies needed to decontaminate the garments, according to a Ville de Montréal press release.

We are very pleased with these crucial investments. The health and safety of our staff, particularly in terms of cancer prevention, is a top priority for SIM, and every improvement in this area is a step forward.is a step towards a safer working environment," said Richard Liebmann, Director of Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal, in a press release.

Every piece of improved equipment, every piece of deployed technology, strengthens [firefighters'] ability to intervene effectively and return safely. The courage of our firefighters deserves resources commensurate with their mission," said Alain Vaillancourt, who is responsible for public safety on the Ville de Montréal executive committee.

We salute every dollar invested in our fire department and support services, which have not only been neglected, but also reduced over the years.s, but also reduced over the years," said Chris Ross, President of the Montreal Firefighters Association, by e-mail.

16 fire-related cancers

When fighting a blaze, firefighters are exposed to carcinogenic substances in the gases and fumes produced by the fire. These substances, particularly solid particles, find their way onto firefighters' clothing, exposing them to increased risks of disease.

Since April 2025, the CNESST has recognized 16 cancers associated with the firefighting profession.

According to CNESST standards, decontamination of firefighters and their equipment is mandatory after every intervention. Decontamination is therefore an integral part of firefighting.

Mr. Ross also points out that over the past 15 years, the CNESST has recognized the deaths of 92 firefighters as being directly linked to occupational illnesses. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified firefighting as a Group 1 human carcinogen as of 2022.

In 2024, the program Enquête also revealed the high presence of eternal contaminants in the materials used to make firefighters' clothing.used to make firefighters' combat suits, increasing the risk of cancer to which they are already overexposed.

Details of the composition of the new suits to be supplied by the city are not yet known.

Source: ici.radio-canada.ca/