As several Michigan communities are dealing with water contaminated by PFAs, local firefighters are taking action when it comes to firefighting foam that contains the harmful chemicals.
According to state data, nearly 45 percent of fire departments use the foam that contains PFAs.
“More and more you’re seeing it in the media. You see a story on PFAs. Class B foam is always in the story,” State Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer said.
Sehlmeyer is on a mission to provide awareness to fire departments and clarity to residents concerned about PFAs, a chemical used in fire retardants.
The class B foam containing those PFAs was used at Wurtsmith Air Force Base in the 1970s and 1980s. It left plumes of PFAs behind in lakes and groundwater.