LASTFIRE Testing of New Fire Fighting Foams Demonstrates Success

ILTA is a supporter of the latest series of tests of alternative, fluorine-free firefighting foams that are candidates for replacing the PFAS-based foams used by the terminal industry for fire suppression for decades. LASTFIRE is an industry coalition that has completed several testing protocols of these alternative foams over the past several years. The most recent tests were conducted at the Phillips 66 refinery in Borger, Texas the week of March 14 and focused on crude oil fires at depth. The tests in Borger involved four fluorine-free foams from four manufacturers, all commercially available and UL listed in the United States. Several representatives of industry were on site to witness the testing, including Steve Pepper of Phillips 66 and Kathryn Clay of ILTA. All the foams proved effective at extinguishing the fires, and the tests yielded important data on the time to extinguishment and insights on the differing characteristics of these foams that will inform future training for fire response. After leaving Borger, the LASTFIRE team traveled to France to conduct further testing of fluorine-free foams at a facility in France, focused on gasoline and ethanol blends.

For more information on LASTFIRE or on fluorine-free firefighting foams and ILTA’s advocacy relating to PFAS, please contact Kathryn Clay at kclay@ilta.org.