Fire Department Service Announcement

Bulletin #68: Safety Bulletin

Check the labels on your 5-gallon pails, 55-gallon drums or totes. If any of the following phrases are printed on the container, please stop using them:

AFFF, AR-AFFF OR C-6 AFFF FOAMS

These foams contain intentionally added PFAS.

• These foam type concentrates represent a health risk for firefighters and the public that they serve.
• If you have C6, AFFF or AR-AFFF products on a fire apparatus – then the foam tank, the proportioner, nozzles and hose lines are all PFAS contaminated. They will need to be replaced before using fluorine-free foams. Otherwise, you will have cross-contamination. This applies to foam trailers as well.
• Firefighter personnel should not use C6, AFFF or AR-AFFF products for decontamination purposes either because of PFAS contamination.
• ‘Fluoro’ means fluorinated, i.e. fluoro proteins

There are no regulations requiring a fire department to use AFFF. Please contact your State Authorities for proper PFAS disposal action.

For more information, contact Dion LeMieux  at the Foam Exposure Committee Dion LeMieux at afastnozzle@gmail.com