VIDEO: A firefighter’s bulky gear keeps them safe and warm in the frigid winter temperatures, but the specialized gear also keeps firefighting crews cool in Denver’s summer months. The multiuse gear is so important to firefighters that it makes sense to help crews lighten the load – with lighter personalized protective equipment or PPE, the Denver Fire Department said. The department replaced the older, bulky gear with new PPE designed to weigh less and prevent exposure to cancer-causing chemicals. Crews will continue to wear the bulkier gear when they respond to structure fires. They’ll wear the new, lighter gear when they respond to calls outdoors like car crashes and wildland fires when heat plays a factor.
