Report shows system deficiencies a year before firefighting foam spill at former Navy base

BRUNSWICK, Maine — A fire suppression system in a Brunswick Executive Airport hangar malfunctioned about a year before it released gallons of firefighting foam laced with harmful chemicals in Maine’s largest accidental fire leakage of the fire extinguishing agent according to a recently published report.

However, it is not known whether these shortcomings, including some non-functioning sensors, led to what happened on august 19th? n Hangar 4. The system released 5,490 liters of fire-fighting foam concentrate, mixed with 190,000 liters of water, onto the former naval base.

An investigation is underway into why the fire suppression system fired. The foam, which contains chemicals known as PFAS, has been removed, and the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention has advised the public not to consume or limit the consumption of freshwater fish from four nearby bodies of water.

The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority, which is overseeing the redevelopment of the property, recently released a July 2023 fire inspection and testing report. The authority actively sought to send a technician to address any deficiencies following the report, Kristine Logan, the group’s executive director, told The Associated Press in an email Friday. She said “no one could be scheduled.”

Logan also said the group was working on finding alternatives to the active foam system in the hangar.

“We didn’t ignore the problem,” she said.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are found in everything from from food packaging to clothing and are associated with health problems, including several types of cancer. Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency for the first time proposed limits for chemicals in drinking water.

Brunswick Naval Air Station officially closed in 2011 and automated fire suppression is mandatory in large hangars. The hangars once housed P-3 Orion subhunters and other aircraft.