CLEVELAND — Chardon fire captain John Blauch said jugs of firefighting foam have been sitting at the firehouse for a while.

What You Need To Know

  • PFAS is a chemical used in firefighting foam

  • Gov. DeWine has launched a program to help fire departments safely dispose of PFAS

  • PFAS can cause cancer and fertility problems

“This is a 1978 manufacture date,” Blauch said. “It’s been here until we can get rid of it the right way.”

The jugs contain polyfluoroalkyl, or PFAS. Blauch said they no longer use it, so these jugs are collecting dust and taking up space in the firehouse. Blauch uses the jugs as a door stop. 

“PFAS door weight until it gets put in a hazmat dump,” Blauch said. 

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to PFAS can increase the risk of prostate, kidney and testicular cancers. It can also have reproductive effects on women, such as decreasing fertility.

Blauch said the department has a new material for firefighting foam that doesn’t contain PFAS. He can load it into a rig in a tank on top.

“All we have to do is pull the lever and as the water comes through. It mixes with the water kind of like detergent and water,” Blauch said. 

He said he wants a way to safely get rid of the old foam material that contains PFAS. Gov. Mike DeWine launched a take-back program that allows fire departments to safely give the PFAS back to the state for money. This way, departments don’t waste the funds they spent on the materials and the state can safely dispose of it.

“If you’re a volunteer department or limited on funds, it kind of gives you a reason to get rid of the old stuff get money back and then replace it with stuff that is better for, both better for us as firefighters as well as your community,” Blauch said. 

Blauch said most turnout gear has a layer of PFAS built into it since it’s meant to prevent the gear from catching on fire. So there are signs throughout the firehouse that remind firefighters to keep it in the gear room.

“If any of this gear enters the living quarters or the office quarters, we are now exposed,” Blauch said. 

But he’d prefer that PFAS be removed from the profession entirely.

“We really need to get this stuff out of our gear,” Blauch said.