City officials said Thursday new information shows the firefighting foam used to put out fires at utility substations in Madison did contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, clarifying an earlier statement made by Madison fire officials.
Firefighters used foam to put out the fires at substations for American Transmission Co. and Madison Gas and Electric on July 19.
Madison fire officials previously told News 3 Now that firefighters used a foam called FireAid 2000 and consulted the manufacturer, which said the foam is not linked to the chemicals commonly referred to as PFAS.
However, the office of Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway sent information to News 3 Now Thursday saying that the city used a foam that is more environmentally friendly than other materials that are available, but that additional information obtained showed that the foam contained a newer form of PFAS substance called perfluorohexanoic acid, or PFHxA.