Gov. Holcomb Encourages Fire Departments to Participate in Program to Protect Firefighters’ Health and Safety, Environment
GREENSBURG—Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced Wednesday the next steps in a new program to collect and dispose of hazardous firefighting foam that contains PFAS, a known contaminant.
“Indiana has chosen to be a leader in this PFAS foam program, because, frankly, firefighting is hard enough without having to worry about these hazardous chemicals,” Gov. Holcomb said. “We hope more departments will sign up so we can do all we can to protect Indiana firefighters.”
About 200 fire departments have already signed on to participate and have identified about 50,000 gallons of the foam that will be safely disposed of at no cost to the department.
Fire departments across the state can register for this free program by visiting the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) website at DHS.IN.GOV. The program is a partnership between IDHS and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM).
The Indiana Class-B Foam Collection Initiative makes Indiana one of only a handful of states in the country to create a PFAS foam disposal program. This program allows the state to offer a free pickup and environmentally friendly disposal service, which saves fire departments thousands of dollars in disposal costs while protecting Hoosiers and the Indiana environment.
The initiative was launched by Gov. Holcomb, State Fire Marshal Joel Thacker and IDEM Commissioner Brian Rockensuess on Wednesday during a kickoff event with fire departments statewide hosted at the Greensburg Fire Department in Decatur County.
Statements from GFD Fire Chief and Mayor:
Greensburg Fire Chief Nathan Stoermer said, “The Greensburg Fire Department is honored to have representatives from our state in Greensburg to kick off the collection of fire fighting foams that have been found to be a known carcinogen, or caner causing, material. The state is putting public safety first by helping us collect these items for disposal. I am appreciative of the Governor, Homeland Security, State Fire Marshal for spearheading this historic event.”
“We are excited to help kick off a new health initiative with our state leadership,” said Greensburg Mayor Joshua Marsh. “Every day, men and women across the state wake up ready to protect us- and this opportunity is our chance to do that for them. Today, in partnership with IDEM, Homeland Security, and Governor Holcomb, we take steps to make the physical work place safer for our public safety.”
PFAS are widely used, long lasting chemicals, components of which break down very slowly over time. Because of their widespread use and their persistence in the environment, many PFAS are found in the blood of people and animals all over the world and are present at low levels in a variety of food products and in the environment. Extended exposure to PFAS chemicals has been linked to four of the top eight types of cancer most common to firefighters: testicular, prostate, mesothelioma, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
In 2020, Indiana law prohibited the use of PFAS foam for any training purposes.
“This collection program is an opportunity for the State to honor those men and women who sacrifice so much for us every day,” Thacker said. “PFAS exposure represents a hidden danger to firefighters, and Indiana is determined to protect them as much as possible through this program.”
“IDEM is proud to work with our state partners to protect the hardworking men and women who risk their lives for us,” Rockensuess said. “PFAS foam has the potential to also negatively affect our groundwater and removing it from our communities will make the environment safer for all Hoosiers.”
A state vendor will begin collections in May by contacting departments that have completed the Foam Collection Initiative Survey to arrange a pickup. IDEM will monitor the disposal program.
Statements from GFD Fire Chief and Mayor:
Greensburg Fire Chief Nathan Stoermer said, “The Greensburg Fire Department is honored to have representatives from our state in Greensburg to kick off the collection of fire fighting foams that have been found to be a known carcinogen, or caner causing, material. The state is putting public safety first by helping us collect these items for disposal. I am appreciative of the Governor, Homeland Security, State Fire Marshal for spearheading this historic event.”
“We are excited to help kick off a new health initiative with our state leadership,” said Greensburg Mayor Joshua Marsh. “Every day, men and women across the state wake up ready to protect us- and this opportunity is our chance to do that for them. Today, in partnership with IDEM, Homeland Security, and Governor Holcomb, we take steps to make the physical work place safer for our public safety.”