PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 29, 2026
Fire stations across Maine are sitting on thousands of gallons of toxic firefighting foam, creating environmental hazards in dozens of communities. Survey results from the State Fire Marshal show at least 9,100 gallons of aqueous film-forming foam owned by 120 fire and emergency management departments. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are called forever chemicals because they don’t break down in nature and build up in the body. Long-term exposure is linked to high cholesterol, liver damage, developmental delays and cancer. The DEP estimates cleanup of all known municipal stockpiles would cost under $500,000. That’s much lower than the $5 million originally estimated. State Rep. Dan Ankeles, D-Brunswick, is drafting a bill that would earmark state PFAS settlement money for collection and disposal.