Equipment Malfunction Caused Foam To Pour Onto A Nearby Street

It must have looked like a washing machine commercial run amok. A malfunction with fire suppression equipment in a hangar at San Jose International Airport caused a foam spill that poured onto a nearby street, according to San Jose fire officials.

Capt. Mitch Matlow, a spokesman for the department, said that the foam that spilled is used to put out jet fuel fires. It can cause eye and skin irritation, according to Matlow.

The McClatchy news service reports that the spill occurred Friday afternoon. A fire alarm malfunction in a 70,000 square-foot hangar where several corporate jets can be kept triggered the discharge. In some places, the foam was several feet deep. It flowed out of the hangar and covered Martin Avenue, which runs along the west edge of the airport.

The hangar is owned by Signature Flight Support. Company spokesman Patrick Sniffen said that the hangar was empty when the spill occurred. The company hired a contractor which specializes in environmental cleanups to take care of the problem, breaking down the foam and vacuuming up the remains.

FMI: www.flysanjose.com, www.signatureflight.com