Rescue Intellitech’s UK and Ireland Sales Manager, Nick Croad, examines growing concerns over firefighters’ exposure to toxic smoke particles and how UK Fire and Rescue Services are strengthening decontamination procedures to reduce risk
Evidence continues to grow linking firefighters’ exposure to smoke particles with serious long-term health risks.
While specialist protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus help firefighters to stay safe during incidents, there is increasing concern that toxic residues from smoke can linger on PPE long after a fire is extinguished, where they can later be inhaled or absorbed through the skin, potentially causing harm.
In 2023, a report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified occupational exposure as a firefighter as carcinogenic, specifically identifying increased risks of mesothelioma and bladder cancer.
In the same year, a study by the University of Central Lancashire, commissioned by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), found that UK firefighters have higher rates of cancer than the general population.
Significantly, it revealed that firefighters who remain in PPE for more than four hours after attending a fire are more than twice as likely to develop cancer than those who remove PPE within 30 minutes.
In February this year, the London Assembly Fire Committee published a report investigating contamination exposure within the London Fire Brigade.
It called for improved monitoring and measurement of exposure and made recommendations to central Government to consider establishing a nation-wide health monitoring programme for UK firefighters.
Stronger measures
In the meantime, in response to these concerns, organisations such as the FBU have been campaigning for stronger contamination control measures to better protect firefighters.
It is hoped that more robust decontamination procedures within the fire station and regular cleaning of PPE will help reduce the risks to firefighter health.
In March 2025, the FBU set out several recommendations for FRSs in its Best Practice Report, including:
- Implementing formal decontamination procedures covering on-scene, post-incident and station-based cleaning processes.
- Ensuring PPE is cleaned and decontaminated after fire incidents, preventing the build-up of hazardous contaminants on kit.
- Designing stations with clear contamination zones, such as red, amber and green areas, to prevent dirty equipment entering clean spaces.
- Providing training on contamination risks and safe working practices.
- Encouraging rapid personal decontamination, including showering and changing into clean clothing as soon as possible after incidents.
FRSs around the UK are already taking these recommendations seriously, by reviewing decontamination procedures and adapting the fire station layout to reduce exposure risks.
This includes assessing and improving PPE handling, equipment cleaning and staff training.
A growing number are upgrading their decontamination rooms and PPE cleaning facilities, creating clearly defined zones around the station to ensure designated areas stay clean.
Heavy-duty cleaning
Rescue Intellitech is proud to be working with many FRSs across the UK to support them with this process.
We offer a full suite of station-based equipment to help make the decontamination process effective and efficient.
Our popular Solo Rescue® machines have been specifically designed to clean firefighter helmets, SCBA, boots and gloves gently, swiftly and thoroughly.
A selection of equipment holders allows different PPE combinations to be decontaminated together in rapid cycles taking a maximum of eight minutes.
For smaller fire stations where space is limited, the streamlined DeconWasher Pro S version delivers the same wash performance but in a more compact size.
Last year, we launched our specialist DE Series washing machines which have been specifically designed to decontaminate firefighter clothing and specialist garments.
Suitable for heavy-duty textiles as well as delicate technical fabrics, they ensure a thorough wash that is gentle enough to preserve the integrity and protective capabilities of valuable PPE.
With three sizes to choose from, fire services can scale to their operational needs.
Finally, our fast and efficient drying cabinets, DC20 and the smaller DC8, offer rapid but gentle drying of PPE.
These dryers can be specifically configured to accommodate bulky kit and equipment, with a combination of shelves and hanging space suitable for clothing, boots, gloves, helmets and SCBA.
Both the interior and exterior of the PPE is dried at the same time, so kit is quickly ready for use.
Customer benefits
Our customers across the UK are seeing the benefits of integrating this equipment into their day-to-day operations.
Chris Simpson, Watch Manager and Equipment Officer at Avon FRS explains how Solo Rescue machines have become integral to its decontamination procedures: “We have a ‘safe undress’ policy for removing PPE after an incident.
“Jacket, trousers, boots and gloves are carefully removed, and special wipes are used to clean exposed skin.
“Then latex gloves are put on before the helmet is removed and the flash hood taken off over the mask and down the SCBA hose.
“The SCBA mask is the last thing to remove, replaced immediately with an FFP3 mask.
“Dirty clothing is then placed in red bags and stored in a separate area of the truck and station for collection and cleaning, while the helmets and SCBA are also bagged and taken to one of our stations for decontamination in the Solo Rescue machines.
“These can be loaded in batches which is very easy, and much quicker than cleaning by hand.
“We then try to ‘shower within the hour’ using special soap and shampoo for removing contaminants.
“Together, these are all important steps to help us minimise exposure to harmful particles and keep our crews safe.”
Similarly, Buckinghamshire FRS uses a bank of six Solo Rescue machines to decontaminate SCBA equipment.
Aron Ridgely, Station Commander, said: “We have robust decontamination processes in place at the scene of an incident and back at the station.
“Contaminated PPE is bagged and sealed and only handled with a mask and gloves.
“By using Solo Rescue, it has continued to reduce risks, as firefighters now have minimal contact with contaminated equipment during washing.”
States of Jersey Fire and Rescue Service (SJFRS) has also installed a Solo Rescue machine at its headquarters in St Helier as part of a reconfiguration of its decontamination room.
Previously, SCBA and other PPE items were carefully cleaned by hand, but keen to mitigate the health risks as much as possible, SJFRS decided to invest in a decontamination machine for a deeper clean.
Station Commander, Ben Elliott, comments: “We recognised that by investing in the Solo Rescue machine, the process would be quicker and more efficient, as well as safer for our staff.
“Crucially, the mechanical cleaning of PPE helps to reduce exposure and contact time.
“In particular, SCBA sets are complex and tricky to clean manually, but come out visibly cleaner with the Solo Rescue.”
Importance of collaboration
To complete the fit out of the newly configured decontamination area, SJFRS has also ordered two drying cabinets, a large DC20 and a smaller DC8, which will be located in the adjacent drying room.
As the understanding of contamination risks to firefighters continues to develop, FRSs are increasingly focussing on robust decontamination procedures and improved facilities to help keep their crews safe.
By combining clear operational guidance, effective training and appropriate equipment, fire services are taking action now to reduce exposure risks and protect firefighter health for the future.
We’re proud to be supporting these efforts by collaborating with FRSs to develop practical decontamination solutions that make these processes safer, more efficient and easier to implement in day-to-day operations.