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For over 30 years, firefighters have relied on foam, particularly aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), to combat flammable liquid fires. Typically, at least one fire department pumper is equipped with AFFF to combat auto or tanker vehicle fires. Of course, aviation and petrochemical firefighters rely on large quantities of AFFF. In May 2000, the 3M company, a major producer of AFFF, announced that it would end production of its AFFF. This action was in response to EPA findings resulting breakdown of
3M AFFF may be persistent, bio-accumulative, and toxic. Although fact finding efforts by the EPA are ongoing, the fire service should be aware that the future use of AFFF may be limited. The US Department of Defense, a major user of AFFF, has initiated preliminary planning on alternative approaches. These approaches include defining applications and discharges, defining required performance of agents for different fire scenarios, identifying containment strategies,
and developing plans for potential alternative agents. In support of government and commercial users and vendors, Hughes Associates, Inc., is assessing fire protection strategies and priorities which are consistent with EPA’s evolving position with respect to fire fighting foam. For more information, contact Joseph Scheffey at Hughes Associates, Inc., (1) + 410-737-8677, joe@haifire.com.