A new law in Pennsylvania bans forever chemicals in the foam firefighters use, and grant money is available to help first responders through the transition.
The law is a combination of two bills that were in the works this session, the other being Senate Bill 980.
Stephanie Wein with PennEnvironment was advocating for the legislation. She says the bills were combined in a procedural move. The new law bans different toxins in both medical supplies and firefighting foam.
The bipartisan effort is aimed at protecting firefighters and drinking water across the state.
Hanover Area Fire and Rescue switched over to a greener option for firefighting foam in 2022 due to an insurance company requirement.
“The foam creates a film over top of the burning liquid, that film disintegrates quicker now than the old foam did,” Chief Tony Clousher said. “So we’re using more.”
Now all Pennsylvania fire companies will have to go through the transition.
WHTM-TV ABC 27 Harrisburg