Madison, WI – As the chair of the Public Safety Review Committee I just sent an email asking for an update about this! So glad the Fire Department is on top of these things!
“A CITIZEN” TIP
I’m not saying that this is why the press release came out. But it is a funny coincidence.
On Saturday I got this email:
Date: Sat, Dec 14, 2019 at 11:20 AM
Subject: PFAS foam us by Fire Department – topic for PSRC?
To: Brenda Konkel <brendakonkel@gmail.com>
The Madison Fire Department has been using PFAS-containing foam to fight fires for decades and used the burn pit area at the count airport for years training with it. The latter is a major contributor to PFAS pollution in Starkweather Creek and the plume that reached Well 15 in Reindahl Park. PFAS foam also puts firefighters at risk of personal exposure. The MGE fire this past summer was containing with PFAS foams used by MFD and the Air National Guard Fire Department. Though the Mayor said that foam used “environmentally friendly” PFAS, that proved to be false(also here and here).
Alternatives to PFAS foams exist.
Perhaps the Public Safety Review Committee can make this an agenda item, and ask the Fire Department to report on its use and if it switch to non-PFAS-containing foams.
A Citizen
FIRE DEPARTMENT PRESS RELEASE
The Madison Fire Department has acquired and placed into service a brand of firefighting foam shown to be PFA-free, according to manufacturer claims and an independent test of the product.
Effective December 13, 2019, all Madison Fire Department rigs were equipped with National Foam brand’s Knockdown Class A Foam Concentrate. This foam was independently tested by the University of Notre Dame to verify the fluorine levels in the product. Results of the test showed fluorine levels at 1 ppm with a margin of error of 6 ppm. Fluorinated firefighting foam products typically contain around 5,000-7,000 ppm total fluorine.
Knockdown Class A Foam Concentrate was chosen following internal functional testing of multiple products marketed as PFA-free. In addition to its extremely low concentration of fluorine, it was selected by the Madison Fire Department for its ability to perform effectively in a wide range of temperatures, which is especially important during Wisconsin’s frigid winter months.
The Madison Fire Department has contracted with a licensed disposal company to responsibly dispose of the fluorinated foam that was previously used by the department. This switch allows the Madison Fire Department to effectively fight fires while potentially reducing the risk of environmental contamination brought forth by PFAs.
The Madison Fire Department shares the community’s concerns about the health and cleanliness of our environment. We recognize that the test results cited above are according to today’s testing standards. We will continue to monitor this product as industry standards change and testing methods evolve.
