LAX rids aircraft rescue, firefighting vehicles of toxic PFAS
Los Angeles Airport public safety officials showed off the process of removing firefighting foam — containing toxic PFA substances — from its fleet of air rescue and firefighting vehicles on Friday, Sept. 27.
A Rosenbauer Panther, shown here on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, is one of the firefighting vehicles used exclusively at Los Angeles International Airport and is stationed and maintained in a former United Airlines hangar. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
The CEO of environmental remediation company TRS Group, Bret Trowbridge, from left, Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley and LA World Airports CEO John Ackerman stand in front of an air, rescue and firefighting vehicle, or ARF, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in a former United Airlines hangar at LAX. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley speaks on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at a preview of firefighting vehicles used exclusively at Los Angeles International Airport. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
An air, rescue and firefighting vehicle, commonly referred to as an ARF, is stationed in a former United Airlines hangar at LAX on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley and Los Angeles World Airports CEO John Ackerman stand in front of a Rosenbauer Panther on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in a former United Airlines hangar at LAX. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley visits a former United Airlines hangar at LAX that is now home to air, rescue and firefighting vehicles on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
A former United Airlines hangar, shown here on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, is now home to firefighting vehicles used exclusively at Los Angeles International Airport. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Greg Knight , operations manager of environmental remediation company TRS Group, left, leads Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley and Los Angeles World Airports CEO John Ackerman on a tour of firefighting vehicles used at LAX, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley visits a former United Airlines hangar at LAX that is now home to air, rescue and firefighting vehicles on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Greg Knight , operations manager of environmental remediation company TRS Group, left, leads Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley and Los Angeles World Airports CEO John Ackerman on a tour of firefighting vehicles used at LAX, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley speaks on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at a preview of firefighting vehicles used exclusively at Los Angeles International Airport. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
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A Rosenbauer Panther, shown here on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, is one of the firefighting vehicles used exclusively at Los Angeles International Airport and is stationed and maintained in a former United Airlines hangar. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Cleaning out the old firefighting foam, according to the Los Angels Worlds Airports, helps prevent PFAS from harming both the environment and firefighters.
A total of 14 air rescue and firefighting trucks from both LAX and Van Nuys Airport will undergo the cleaning process as part of the LAWA’s larger project.
“This transition underscores our unwavering commitment to the safety of our operations and emergency response community, as well as our dedication to environmental stewardship,” ohn Ackerman, CEO of Los Angeles World Airports, said in a statement. “By taking this proactive step and collaborating with a deep bench of subject matter experts, from the remediation team to the Los Angeles Fire Department, we’re setting a new standard for airports in California and across the nation.”