Oregon Moves to Outlaw ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Firefighting Foam

Oregon is on the brink of becoming the 16^th state to outlaw ‘forever chemicals’ in firefighting foam believed to be in the bloodstream of every person in America, according to testing and research by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

PFAS Has Leached into Streams and Rivers, Contaminating Water Supplies

PFAS does not break down naturally and has leached into streams and rivers for decades, contaminating water supplies.

PFAS is a flame retardant used many years in non-stick cookware and other household items and can lead to an increased risk of cancer and birth defects after consumption or long-term exposure.

Senate Bill 91 was passed by the State Senate on Tuesday to outlaw perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) from firefighting foam. The House of Representatives must now vote on the bill.

If passed by the House, the Senate bill has set 1 July 2026 as the deadline for fire departments to phase out the use of PFAS. However, officials from the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Oregon Department of Forestry have told lawmakers that, as far as they know, PFAS-laden firefighting foam is not in use at fire departments in the state.

There Could Still be 250,000 Gallons of PFAS Aviation Firefighting Foam in Oregon

Oregon was the first state to instruct all airports to phase out PFAS-laden AFFF foam, according to Karl Koenig, president of the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association.

Koenig, a retired fighter and paramedic, told lawmakers at a February hearing that if the bill is passed, Oregon Fire Chiefs will work with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to draw up an inventory of AFFF foam and other foams containing PFAS that still exist in the state and find a solution to exchange or dispose of them.

He guestimates that there are still about 250,000 gallons of AFFF foam in Oregon.

The bill excludes firefighting foams required by the Federal Aviation Administration or other federal law. The U.S. Forest Service has yet to end the use of PFAS-laden firefighting foam.