"Firefighters sometimes use a special type of foam to put out fires caused by flammable liquids, like gases or solvents. But that foam contains “forever chemicals,” or PFAs.

The ubiquitous chemicals can build up in your body. They’ve been linked to reproductive problems and some cancers.

Now, the Washington Department of Ecology is helping fire departments get rid of their extra foam, called aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF for short. The department has budgeted about $500,000 to dispose of the foam, said Sean Smith, product replacement coordinator with the Department of Ecology. State funding lasts through June 2027, he said."

Courtney Flatt reports for Northwest Public Broadcasting December 21, 2025. [2]