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SOP-240Personnel & TrainingSOP

Gross Decontamination

On-scene decon of crews and gear to reduce carcinogen exposure.

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This is a template. It is not your department's policy.

Tailboard templates are drafted as generic starting points aligned to national standards. They are nota substitute for your department's own review or for adoption through your Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). For topics carrying significant exposure (use of force, medical scope, civil rights), route through qualified counsel before adoption.

Every placeholder marked [BRACKETED] must be completed before adoption. Every section must be reviewed against your department's staffing, apparatus, water supply, EMS scope, geography, and the specific laws of your state. What applies to a career department in a city may not apply to a volunteer department in a rural jurisdiction, and vice versa.

Standards, regulations, and best practices are updated regularly. Verify the current edition of every standard cited before adopting this document. Once adopted, this document becomes your department's responsibility — not Tailboard's.

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Number

SOP-240

Version

1.0

Last reviewed

2026-01-01

Next review

2027-01-01

Summary

This SOP establishes gross decontamination of crews and personal protective equipment at structural fires and other carcinogen-exposing incidents. Rationale: firefighter cancer is occupational; the soot and products of combustion on bunker gear contain known carcinogens that continue to off-gas and absorb through skin long after the fire is out.

Definitions

Gross Decon
The initial on-scene cleaning of crews and gear, using water, soap, and brushing, to remove visible soot and contaminants before leaving the scene.
Technical Decon
More thorough cleaning performed after incident return, typically by washing bunker gear in an approved extractor and deep-cleaning SCBA.
Advanced Cleaning
The annual or post-exposure specialized cleaning of PPE per NFPA 1851, typically by an Independent Service Provider or in-house with approved equipment.

Purpose

To reduce members' exposure to carcinogens and other hazardous products of combustion by performing consistent on-scene and post-incident decontamination.

Scope

Applies to every member exposed to products of combustion at any incident. Triggers decon obligations at structure fires, vehicle fires, hazmat incidents, and any other incident involving significant visible contamination or suspected toxic exposure.

On-Scene Gross Decon

  1. A decon area is established at the incident, on the cold-zone side of the Rehab group.
  2. Members undergoing decon remove SCBA, coat, and pants as the final steps of decon — not beforehand.
  3. Gross decon is performed with water (from a booster line or utility hose), dish soap or approved decon soap, and a soft-bristle brush.
  4. Scrub all exterior surfaces of bunker coat, pants, boots, helmet, gloves, and SCBA harness.
  5. Rinse thoroughly.
  6. Members then remove gear, bag contaminated items in a sealable bag for transport, and wipe exposed skin with disposable wet wipes (face, neck, hands, wrists).

Handling Contaminated Gear

  • Contaminated gear is bagged at the scene in a sealable bag.
  • Gear is transported in an exterior compartment (not the cab, not personal vehicles, not homes).
  • Do not hang contaminated gear in living spaces or sleeping quarters.

Post-Incident (Technical Decon)

  • On return to quarters, gear goes directly to the gear-wash area.
  • Bunker gear is laundered in an approved extractor, not a domestic washing machine.
  • A spare set of bunker gear or a second hood/gloves allow the member to remain in service while primary gear is washed.
  • SCBA facepieces and straps are cleaned and disinfected.
  • Members shower within 60 minutes of returning to quarters.

Medical Surveillance

  • Significant exposures (large structure fires, confined-space fires, known or suspected hazmat) trigger a documented exposure report.
  • Members experiencing symptoms (headache, nausea, shortness of breath, unusual fatigue) are evaluated by EMS on scene and may be transported.
  • Exposure records are maintained in the member's medical file.

Responsibilities

Incident Commander

  • Establish a decon area at every working fire and other decon-triggering incident.
  • Assign a member or crew to manage decon operations.
  • Ensure no member leaves the scene without completing gross decon.

Decon Officer (or Rehab Officer)

  • Set up and supervise gross decon operations.
  • Ensure water, soap, brushes, wipes, and bags are available.
  • Track members through decon.

Members

  • Undergo gross decon before leaving the scene.
  • Bag and transport contaminated gear properly.
  • Shower within 60 minutes of returning to quarters.
  • Report any symptoms of exposure to your officer.

Equipment

  • Dedicated decon kit on every first-due engine: soap, brushes, hose, bags, wipes.
  • Bunker gear extractor accessible to every member.
  • Dry decon wipes in every apparatus cab for member self-decon en route if needed.

Training Requirements

  • All members trained on decon procedures at onboarding and annually.
  • Training covers gross decon mechanics, contamination control in the cab and station, and post-incident cleaning.

References

  • NFPA 1851Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting
  • NFPA 1500Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety, Health, and Wellness Program
  • NVFC Lavender Ribbon Report11 Best Practices for Preventing Firefighter Cancer
  • Firefighter Cancer Support NetworkTaking Action Against Cancer in the Fire Service

Adapt this template

Before this template becomes your department's policy, review the following items and adjust accordingly. Anything else that does not match your operation should be updated as well.

  • Specify the decon soap you stock (dish soap is acceptable per most programs).
  • If your department has a dedicated gear extractor, note location and access.
  • Cross-reference PPE and Fitness/Wellness SOPs.

Adoption signature

Adopted by (Name, Rank)
Signature
Effective date
Next scheduled review

Before adoption checklist

  • ☐Replace [DEPARTMENT NAME] throughout the document.
  • ☐Complete every [BRACKETED] placeholder.
  • ☐Confirm the current edition of every cited standard.
  • ☐Check against your state statutes and state fire marshal rules.
  • ☐Route for chief review. Topics with significant exposure (use of force, medical scope) also go through qualified counsel.
  • ☐Confirm alignment with any mutual-aid agreements.
  • ☐Schedule a training plan for the new policy before effective date.
  • ☐Announce adoption in writing to all members. Archive the prior version.
  • ☐Set the next review date — annually at minimum.