On Monday, the Denver Fire Department announced it had partnered with the Denver International Airport to remove all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances โ also known as โforever chemicalsโ or PFAS โ from all of the airportโs aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles.
Instead, each vehicle has been filled with a fluorine-free foam. All 11 of the airportโs aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles were rigorously rinsed with โspecial cleaning technologyโ to remove several hundred gallons of aqueous film-forming foam, which contains PFAS, from each vehicle.
The film-forming foam has been historically used due to its effectiveness for extinguishing petroleum-based liquid fires. At one point, the Federal Aviation Administration required that foam be used at commercial airports.
In the past few years, DIA has worked to reduce or eliminate any use of the film-forming foam to prevent the exposure of PFAS at the airport. DIA began transitioning to a fluorine-free foam in September 2023.
โAs DEN continues its efforts to become the greenest airport in the world, itโs our duty and responsibility as leaders in the aviation industry to ensure the safety of our fire personnel, employees, surrounding communities and the environment,โ DIA CEO Phil Washington said in the airportโs announcement of the change. โIโm proud to say DEN has taken proactive measures and is one of the first airports in Colorado to lead the way.โ
