Department news News
Markham Fire transitioning all fire trucks to non-toxic bio-based gel

April 9, 2024, Markham, Ont. – Markham Fire & Emergency Services (MFES) is transitioning its entire fire apparatus fleet to a non-toxic bio-based gel with the goal of improving the health and safety of its firefighters, residents and the environment.

“The city of Markham and MFES takes the health and safety of our staff, residents, visitors and our natural environment very seriously,” said MFES Deputy Chief Matt Keay in a press statement. “Once we identified the risk associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – known as PFAS – in our fire fighting foams, we immediately began looking for safer alternatives.”

MFES partnered with FireRein and PPE Solutions to replace its fluorinated fire fighting foam, which contains PFAS, with the fire suppressant Eco-Gel. The substance is a non-toxic water additive that suppresses both Class A and Class B fires. It is designed so firefighters will need to use less water to knock down both regular fires and hydrocarbon fuel fires. The gel suppressant is already in use in several other industries, including wildfire and mining.

“The Markham Professional Firefighters Association supports any innovation based on making Markham’s firefighters and residents safer,” said MPFFA president Andrew Ireland in a news release. “The removal of PFAS containing foam and the conversion to a safer alternative is fully supported by the MPFFA.”

The non-toxic gel has been tested in the DRAGO unit, an auxiliary vehicle that shoots mist over 200 feet with a width of 50 feet wide, and found that it increased reach by approximately 20 per cent while improving the effectiveness of fire suppression, reported MFES.