Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) has been known since the 1960s for its miraculous abilities to smother otherwise catastrophic jet fuel-based fires. This disaster led the US Navy to partner with the company 3M to develop the PFAS-based AFFF foam. On a local level, the Air Force also took responsibility for contamination south of Colorado Springs and funded water treatment in affected communities. In May 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an emergency order requiring the Air Force to devise a cleanup plan. Two months later, the Air Force asked the EPA to withdraw its order, arguing that there was no public health threat.