Toxics in firefighting law

Firefighter fighting a fire
In 2018, Washington passed the Firefighting Agents and Equipment law (Chapter 70A.400 RCW), which:

We are developing an AFFF collection and disposal program to help local fire departments and first responder organizations collect and safely dispose of unused AFFF they have on-site.

What does this law include?

In Washington, class B firefighting foam cannot be:

PFAS foams may still be used for emergencies and testing required by federal laws and rules. This law does NOT apply to military (DOD) installations.

Requirements for part 139-certificated airports

Federally-certificated part 139 airports in Washington must procure Department of Defense (DOD) approved non-PFAS firefighting agents and:

  • Report their progress to us by March 31, 2025.
  • Completely transition to non-PFAS firefighting agents by Sept. 30, 2025.

Requirements for PFAS-containing firefighting PPE

PFAS-containing firefighting PPE can still be manufactured and sold, but manufacturers and sellers must provide a written notice to buyers in Washington that their products contain PFAS.


Preferred purchasing guidelines

The law directs us to work with the Department of Enterprise Services to develop preferred purchasing guidance to help other public sectors avoid purchasing AFFF and PFAS-containing PPE.

Frequently asked questions