DIA transitions to firefighting foam without ‘forever chemicals'
DENVER (KDVR) — On Monday, the Denver Fire Department announced it had partnered with the Denver International Airport to remove all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — also known as 'forever chemicals' or PFAS — from all of the airport's aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles.
Instead, each vehicle has been filled with a fluorine-free foam. All 11 of the airport's aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles were rigorously rinsed with 'special cleaning technology' to remove several hundred gallons of aqueous film-forming foam, which contains PFAS, from each vehicle.
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The film-forming foam has been historically used due to its effectiveness for extinguishing petroleum-based liquid fires. At one point, the Federal Aviation Administration required that foam be used at commercial airports.
In the past few years, DIA has worked to reduce or eliminate any use of the film-forming foam to prevent the exposure of PFAS at the airport. DIA began transitioning to a fluorine-free foam in September 2023.
'As DEN continues its efforts to become the greenest airport in the world, it's our duty and responsibility as leaders in the aviation industry to ensure the safety of our fire personnel, employees, surrounding communities and the environment,' DIA CEO Phil Washington said in the airport's announcement of the change. 'I'm proud to say DEN has taken proactive measures and is one of the first airports in Colorado to lead the way.'
Additionally, DIA cleaned and removed PFAS from nine vehicles used for structural fires. The vehicles had been rinsed in DIA's first round of PFAS cleanings in 2021, but industry standards have increased, adding new ways to clear PFAS from equipment.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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