Fire-Dex Blog

Summer shifts can be brutal. The heat’s relentless, the calls keep coming, and the job never gets any easier. All that is made worse by the fact that you’re wrapped up in what can be described as a winter coat and snow pants all day—aka turnout gear.

While structural firefighting gear is essential for high-heat environments, not every call requires the full protection of turnouts or structural firefighting gloves. Wearing full structural PPE for every incident can lead to unnecessary fatigue, cross contamination, and increased wear and tear on

The East Providence Fire Department has become the first in the United States to purchase and use non-PFAS turnout gear department-wide—an industry milestone achieved through a collaborative partnership with protective gear manufacturer Fire-Dex and textile innovator Milliken & Company.

When you’re on scene, the last thing you want to think about is your gear. As a gear manufacturer, that means our job is to make PPE so well that you forget you’re wearing it. 

For firefighters, gloves are a crucial part of your safety gear. While maybe less talked about than your turnouts, a good pair of gloves can be the difference between injury and getting home. 

For a long time, firefighters have had only two clothing options while on duty. 

The popular image of a firefighter is someone who, well, fights fires. And while that’s certainly a big part of the job description, the fact is that most calls aren’t actually structure fire related. 

At Fire-Dex, our mission is “To Serve Those Who Serve.” That mission means that all of our gear is designed to keep you safe while you do your job. 

Firefighters respond to a lot of different calls. From structural fires to MVAs to natural disasters to gas leaks, no day is ever the same. 

This article first appeared in the International Fire Buyer March edition magazine (pgs. 42-44).