Firefighters press legislature for screening pilot, PFAS-free gear and reimbursements after cancer diagnoses

A firefighter who recently survived kidney cancer and a coalition representing fire departments testified March 4 that Connecticut should adopt a pilot cancer-screening program, increase access to PFAS‑free turnout gear and reimburse departments that already removed PFAS foam from apparatus.

The hearing focused on House Bill 7,120, which would: require municipalities to provide PFAS‑free turnout gear to qualifying firefighters, create a cancer-screening pilot program, and fund removal of PFAS firefighting foam from apparatus. Proponents described human and financial costs of late cancer diagnoses and urged early screening and equipment changes.

Wallingford firefighter David Pirelli, who described his diagnosis and treatment to the committee, said he had no symptoms before an October 2023 checkup led to surgery. He testified: “By September of that year, I had half of my right kidney removed along with a 2 inch tumor and it was…