MARQUETTE, MI-- The state Fire Marshal was in Marquette Saturday to talk about how to deal with firefighting foam that could contaminate drinking water.
The foam contains a class of chemicals called PFAS, which are toxic to humans.
Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer and Marquette Fire Chief Ian Davis held a roundtable discussion about the state’s efforts to protect drinking water. Sehlmeyer is part of the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team. He’s getting input from fire departments across the state with an aim toward developing methods to dispose of the foam properly.
Of the nearly 700 departments surveyed, almost 45 percent have Class B foam—the kind that contains PFAS. That’s a total of 32,000 gallons.
Fire departments have been told not to train with Class B foam, and it should only be used in emergencies involving life-saving situations. If the foam is used, sand should be employed to contain the material and storm drains should be sandbagged to prevent runoff.
