1-7-20 fdl fire department to hault using firefighting foam that contains pfas

The Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue Department is joining other fire departments around the state in stopping the use of firefighting foam that contains a group of man-made chemicals that have been linked to a number of health hazards including cancer.   Fond du Lac Fire Chief Pete O’Leary tells WFDL news the concern is that PFAS in the foam can contaminate groundwater and waterways.  “Its been high on our radar and we have identified a greener product that does not contain flourine.  So we won’t be purchasing Class B foam,” O’Leary told WFDL news.   O’Leary says the department has been talking with the Fond du Lac water utility about the concerns of using the so-called Class-B foam during training exercises at the city’s new Fire Training tower because a city water well is located nearby.   O’Leary says the city will no longer be using foam that contains polyfluoraalkyl substances.  In mid-December, the Madison Fire Department switched to flourine-free foam.