First Responder Center for Excellence to Give Away 2,500 Green Gear Bags in 2025

The First Responder Center for Excellence (FRCE) is proud to announce the giveaway of 2,500 green gear bags specially designed to hold your personal protective equipment (PPE). These bags aren’t just about storage—they’re about safety, health, and cultural change in the fire service.

Why green? Because green means safety. Traditionally, gear bags have been red—often associated with danger or medical waste. Our green gear bags flip that script, signaling a new approach focused on minimizing exposure and maximizing well-being.

These gear bags help prevent cross-contamination by containing potential toxins and carcinogens that may linger on PPE. Whether you're transporting gear after a call or storing it in your vehicle (especially for fire officers and chiefs), this is a simple and effective step in reducing harmful exposures.

But this is about more than a bag. It’s about changing the narrative.

We want every use of these green gear bags to serve as a reminder: To put your health first. To take small actions that lead to long-term wellness. To be accountable—not just for yourself, but for your crew. To "be the salt" in your department—driving change from the inside out.

Who Will Receive These Bags?

In 2025, we’re distributing the green gear bags at five premier fire service conferences across the country. These conferences were chosen for their geographic diversity, outstanding quality, and unwavering commitment to firefighter wellness:

Here are the five conferences for 2025

County Fire Tactics - COBC - Pensacola, FL - April 28 - May 2, 2025

https://cftactics.regfox.com/cobc-2025-command-officer-boot-camp

Great Lakes H.O.T - Pontiac, MI - June 11th – 14th, 2025

https://buildyourculture.org/great-lakes-hot/

Firemanship - Aurora, IL - July 14-18

https://www.firemanshipconference.com/

Pacific Northwest Fire Conference - October 5, 2025 - October 10, 2025

https://www.firenuggets.com/classes/pnw-fire-conference

Brothers helping brothers - 8th Annual Firefighter Health & Wellness Conference

• Beavercreek Ohio

October 15-17 2025

https://events.brothershelpingbrothers.org/ffhw2025/

Made Possible By

This initiative wouldn’t be possible without the generosity and vision of our sponsors:

• FireStation Furniture
• Fire Wipes
• Chiefs Billy Goldfeder & Frank Leeb and 30 Fires You Must Know
• John Miclot and the Fox Chapel Volunteer Fire Department
• First Responder Center for Excellence (FRCE)

If you're interested in becoming a sponsor for the next round of green gear bags and continuing this movement toward safer practices, please contact FRCE Managing Director Frank Leeb at Fleeb@FRCmail.org.

Together, we protect our own—on and off the fireground.