VIDEO: The Pasco Fire Department has become the first fire department in Washington state to have its stockpile of toxic firefighting foam safely removed, marking a significant milestone in protecting both firefighters and the environment from harmful chemicals used for more than two decades.
The foam, known as AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam), was once commonly used to fight fuel fires but contains PFAS chemicals โ often called “forever chemicals” โ that are linked to serious health risks, including increased risk of kidney, testicular, and breast cancers, immune system damage, liver problems, and thyroid hormone disruption.
The Washington State Department of Ecology collected Pasco Fire’s remaining foam for safe disposal as part of a statewide program that has enrolled 77 fire stations to dispose of approximately 32,000 gallons of AFFF. “It’s important because we want to make sure we’re protecting the environment,” said Mike Maier, battalion chief with the Pasco Fire Department.
