When chemical and biological weapons moved from the military arena to the civilian world via terrorism nearly 10 years ago, we in the fire service didn't know anything.

But the military did. We made a lot of assumptions concerning our SCBA against this new hazard that turned out to be wrong. We were unaware that there had been an agreement between the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Department of Defense that decided there was no need for NIOSH to include any testing requirements for chemical or biological weapons in civilian respirator protection. This was probably a reasonable decision at the time because such warfare agents had not been used in the civilian atmosphere.

Upon learning of this new possible deficiency, the International Association of Fire Chiefs launched a campaign to have NIOSH establish a new standard that would ensure that civilian first responders would be adequately protected. After almost six years and $9 million, NIOSH has established a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear program.

NIOSH investigators found several major factors that were of great concern. In the existing military standard, the military considered that all users were very youthful and in perfect physical condition. They also were willing to entertain “acceptable losses.” Another serious consideration was that the military felt that they would encounter chemical and biological agents outside. An outdoor release would dissipate much more quickly than an indoor release or even one within an urban setting. Within a structure, chemical and biological agents may last longer and the concentrations may be stronger. These factors are not acceptable for civilian responders.

NIOSH has developed a good set of standards that will adequately protect first responders in such an incident. A number of SCBA have now been certified under the new CBRN standard. Manufacturers are producing retrofit kits so that many of the SCBA presently in the field can meet the new standard. With the SCBA program is well under way, the next phase will be to certify air-purifying respirators. As of March, several manufacturers have passed the certification, and I'm sure more will follow. Phase three will be to certify powered air-purifying respirators.

Now comes the big problem for emergency responders. The dilemma for the fire service's leadership on this matter is large in the mind but simple to answer. Many believe that a chemical or biological attack will never happen in their jurisdiction, and they may be very correct. The odds are that their thinking might be right — but maybe not.

If that is the route you choose, then why encourage anyone to buy fire insurance? After all, no one thinks they will have a fire in their home or business. The intelligent person still buys the insurance because a major loss would just be unacceptable. To protect their responders, some people have purchased respirator units that will not adequately protect against these agents of warfare; that must be corrected. Most of our leadership has done nothing. They claim that there's no available budget or any number of other reasons to justify their lack of action. “No action” is not an acceptable answer.

The fire department is an all-hazards response operation. We have found ways to handle other special hazards so, why not chemical and biological agents? The answers have been given to us and we know there is a way to provide respiratory protection for our emergency responders during such an incident. Follow NIOSH's CBRN program and purchase equipment that meets its guidelines.

All emergency responders deserve to know that we have provided them the best possible protection. Let's get off our plush office chairs and find a way.

John Eversole was chief of special operations for the Chicago Fire Department before his retirement. He is the chairman of the IAFC Hazardous Materials Committee and the committee for NFPA 472, Professional Competence of Emergency Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents. He received the Congressional Fire Services Institute's Mason Lankford Leadership Award in 2001.