On the evening of June 20, a significant incident occurred at the Army Aviation Support Facility in South Burlington, where 800 gallons of concentrated aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) were inadvertently released due to a fire system malfunction. The mishap took place while the building was unoccupied, according to a VT National Guard statement.

Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is a fire suppressant used to put out flammable liquid fires. AFFF is highly effective at putting out fires, especially those involving jet fuel. However, it often contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a large family of human-made chemicals that are known as “forever chemicals.”

In response, the Vermont National Guard collaborated with various local agencies to manage and contain the spill. Efforts to clean the facility are ongoing, and access to the building is restricted to personnel involved in the cleanup operation. The facility is projected to resume normal activities by Wednesday, June 26.

As of the latest update, about 650 gallons of AFFF concentrate have been successfully recovered from the sprinkler room. An investigation into the cause of the system failure will commence once the decontamination process is complete, with full access to the sprinkler system expected by Thursday.