For decades, the greatest threat to a firefighter was thought to be the fire itself. We focused on thermal protection, structural integrity, and air management. But while we were looking at the flames, a silent threat was sitting right against our skin.
Diane Cotter, a name now synonymous with firefighter advocacy, changed the trajectory of the service forever. After her husband, Lieutenant Paul Cotter, was diagnosed with occupational cancer, Diane refused to accept "it’s just part of the job" as an answer. Her relentless digging led to a startling discovery: the very gear designed to save us was saturated with PFAS—"forever chemicals" linked to the very cancers killing our brothers and sisters.
“We were told it was safe.”
Diane often recounts the resistance she met early on. "The manufacturers said the levels were safe, but they never defined what 'safe' meant," she has noted in her years of advocacy. Her work, alongside scientists like Dr. Graham Peaslee, proved that PFAS wasn't just in the gear; it was shedding off it, absorbing through our skin, and contaminating our firehouses.
Because of Diane’s "pink binder" of evidence and her 10-year crusade, the tide has finally turned.
2026: The Year of the Transition
As of this year, we are seeing a historic shift. Major departments, like San Francisco, have become the largest in the country to fully transition to PFAS-free turnout gear. New standards (NFPA 1970) are finally restricting these hazardous substances, and the industry is moving toward a future where "protection" doesn't come with a hidden chemical cost.
However, the transition isn't overnight. Thousands of firefighters are still wearing "legacy" gear, and even those in new gear are dealing with the "body burden" of years of exposure.
Where Ash and Ember Stands
At Ash and Ember Remedies, we believe that if you’re fighting for your life on the fireground, you shouldn’t have to fight your equipment, too.
Our mission isn't just about what you wear; it's about what you put in your body to help it fight back. While Diane Cotter fights to clean up the gear, we are here to support the "internal gear"—your respiratory system and your cellular health.
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Reducing the Burden: Our Stoke pouches are strictly organic and 100% free of the synthetic chemicals, plastics, and "forever" additives found in traditional oral products.
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Botanical Defense: We use ingredients like Organic Mullein and Calendula specifically because they support the body’s natural detoxification pathways and respiratory clearing processes.
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A Legacy of Health: We follow the lead of advocates like Diane. We believe in transparency, independent testing, and the right to know exactly what is entering your system.
A New Standard of Care
The fire service is evolving. We are learning that "toughness" isn't about ignoring risks; it's about mitigating them. Whether it’s demanding PFAS-free turnouts or choosing organic herbal support for your lungs, the goal is the same: Ensuring that when the fire is out, you still have a long, healthy life to lead.
As Diane Cotter famously says: "Firefighters are their community helpers... we have to wear the gear to protect ourselves. Our lives are worth the risk of change."