The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has officially dropped its high-profile PFAS lawsuit in Massachusetts state court, ending a yearlong battle over claims that a major fire safety organization ignored cancer-linked chemicals in firefighting gear.

The move comes after the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) updated its safety standards to phase out perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS — the so-called “forever chemicals” long used to make firefighting gear resistant to heat and water.

Filed in 2023, the union’s lawsuit accused the NFPA of turning a blind eye to the health risks of PFAS by maintaining outdated safety standards that effectively forced fire departments to keep using the toxic materials.

Voluntary Dismissal Ends Heated Legal Clash

The voluntary dismissal, filed Monday in Suffolk County Superior Court, follows a partial victory for NFPA last year when a judge dismissed the union’s conspiracy claim, which alleged that the organization colluded with manufacturers to maintain PFAS-laced safety requirements.

A summary judgment hearing on the remaining negligence and unfair practices claims had been scheduled for later this month before the case was abruptly withdrawn.

In a statement, IAFF General President Edward Kelly described the dismissal as a “joint agreement” reached after the NFPA adopted the very changes the union had demanded.

“Our objective was to remove PFAS and other toxins from firefighter protective gear,” Kelly said. “Ultimately, the IAFF and NFPA have worked together toward this outcome, and we value their shared commitment to ensuring the highest standards of protection for the fire service and for our communities across North America.”

Kelly added that the union’s primary goal had been realized, prompting the IAFF executive board to direct its lawyers to end the litigation.

NFPA Denies Lawsuit Impacted Policy

But NFPA President and CEO Jim Pauley pushed back against any suggestion that the lawsuit spurred reform, emphasizing that the legal battle had “no bearing” on the organization’s decision to update its safety standards.

“The IAFF’s legal strategy was misguided and not supported by the facts,” Pauley said. “It was clear from the discovery process that the remaining claims had no basis. We are pleased that they have asked the court to dismiss all claims.”

The NFPA maintains that its standards are created through a neutral, consensus-based process involving firefighters, regulators, industry experts, and consumer advocates — not corporate influence.

Legal Teams and Industry Implications

The IAFF was represented by Motley Rice LLC, Sullivan Papain Block McManus Coffinas & Cannavo PC, and Simmons Hanly Conroy LLP, while the NFPA’s defense was led by Hogan Lovells.

The Firefighters Union PFAS Suit drop marks a pivotal moment in the growing national reckoning over PFAS exposure, which has triggered dozens of lawsuits by firefighters, municipalities, and environmental groups against manufacturers and regulatory bodies alike.

Though the lawsuit has ended, the broader fight over PFAS in firefighting gear — and its potential links to cancer and chronic illness — is far from over. As one veteran firefighter said in a recent union forum, “The gear keeps us alive in the flames — but it shouldn’t kill us later.”