Firefighting without PFAS, expert explains

Virginia Tech | April 8, 2025

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"For decades, PFAS, which stands for polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been a staple in firefighting foams because of their ability to smother liquid fuel fires. But as concerns over their environmental and health impacts grow, researchers are racing to find safer alternatives.

Brian Lattimer, head of the Virginia Tech Department of Mechanical Engineering, has been at the forefront of this challenge. With new bans on PFAS and increasing awareness of their impacts, his team is working to develop firefighting solutions that do not rely on these chemicals.

What are PFAS?

“PFAS are a group of over 4,700 fluorochemicals, widely used because of their resistance to water and oil,” Lattimer says. “They’ve been commercially produced since the 1940s and can be found in everything from cleaning agents and cosmetics to nonstick cookware and firefighting foams.”