Firefighters in Laredo and elsewhere may be at risk due to their protective gear. The specialized suits, known as turnout gear, are designed to shield first responders from heat and moisture. However, they contain chemicals that have been linked to cancer.

A former firefighter's cancer diagnosis led to research on the toxic threads used in the gear. His wife's advocacy sparked a decade-long fight to raise awareness about the potential health risks associated with the protective suits. Further details on this issue are available from InvestigateTV, which has been looking into the matter.