Bbq In Hangar Led To Extinguishing Agent Accident


BBQ in hangar led to extinguishing agent accident

NHK has learned that the US military in Okinawa, southwestern Japan, says a barbecue party in an aircraft hangar led to a large release of fire extinguishing agent. It spread to communities around the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in April.

Sources say the military on Friday explained the results of its investigation to local officials from Ginowan City, and others.

In the incident, more than 140,000 liters of a fire extinguishing agent flowed out of the base. The foam reached residential areas. One of the elements of the agent is an organic fluorine compound called PFOS, a chemical said to be toxic.

A special team from the US military investigated the accident.

The sources say the military told the local officials that fire extinguishing equipment engaged when a barbecue party was held in a hangar.

They say the military explained that the reason why such a large amount of the agent leaked is that no one at the scene knew they could have stopped it just by holding down a switch.