Four years after ban, fire departments stuck with hazardous PFAS foam

By Christine Condon | Maryland Matters | May 4, 2026

Read the full article by Christine Condon (Maryland Matters)

“In dark corners and supply closets in firehouses across Maryland sit gallons upon gallons of a toxic firefighting foam that firefighters can no longer use.

In 2022, the state legislature passed a law banning the use of firefighting foams laden with PFAS, a class of heat- and oil-resistant chemicals, many of which have been linked to cancer, reproductive harms and other ailments.

But about four years later, the state doesn’t have a plan to get rid of the foam, leaving fire departments around the state scratching their heads."

This content provided by the PFAS Project.