NEWS RELEASE: Inadvertent fire-suppression foam released

  • Published
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – An electrical-component malfunction in aircraft hangar 4016 on Wright-Patterson AFB’s Area A resulted in an inadvertent release of about 100 gallons of fire-suppressant foam Thursday, officials said.

The foam released is an alcohol-based expansion foam, also known as Ansul JetX. In the event of a fire, the foam cools the blaze and coats the fuel, preventing its contact with oxygen. 

Ansul JetX foam does not contain perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) or perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of manufactured chemicals that include PFOS or PFOA.

Wright-Patterson AFB and its firefighters do not use foam containing PFAS.

The 88th Civil Engineer environmental management officials notified the city of Fairborn’s wastewater treatment plant officials (WWTP). Environmental management personnel, with support from Fairborn WWTP personnel, are taking mitigation measures to reduce impacts to the base and surrounding communities.

“We take our relationship with community partners seriously, especially when it comes to potential environmental impacts,” said Col. Pat Miller, 88th Air Base Wing and installation commander. “Our environmental management team is working diligently with our Fairborn partners to ensure we minimize any impacts to the local community. Transparency and being a good partner and neighbor to surrounding communities are important to me as the base commander – our response to this incident has been a testament to that partnership with Fairborn.”

Wright-Patterson AFB maintenance personnel are troubleshooting the system to determine the malfunction’s cause.

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