A malfunction in the fire suppression system at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station in Maine led to the release of approximately 1,600 gallons of firefighting foam containing hazardous per-and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals. The Maine Regional Redevelopment Authority and Brunswick Executive Airport were notified electronically on Monday morning that the system in Hangar 4 had engaged. A firefighter had to navigate through the foam and water to manually turn off the four wall-mounted cannons meant to suppress fires.
The cause of the discharge is currently being investigated. Most of the contents from the hangar’s two foam tanks were drained by the system, resulting in the release of 1,600 gallons of foam and 60,000 gallons of water. Kristine Logan, the executive director of MRRA, expressed a commitment to handling the cleanup promptly and transparently.
Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemical compounds found in various products like food packaging and clothing, linked to health issues such as different types of cancer. Concerns over PFAS leaching into groundwater and endangering firefighters have prompted some fire departments to transition away from foam containing these chemicals. Recently, New Hampshire initiated a program to collect foam from fire departments, with several departments submitting hundreds of gallons for disposal by a private company.
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is supervising the cleanup operations, and Clean Harbors of South Portland has deployed vacuum trucks, containment booms, and tanks on site. The Brunswick Naval Air Station ceased operations in 2011, and automated fire suppression systems are mandated in large hangars where P-3 Orion subhunters and other aircraft were once stationed.