SPOKANE, Wash. — Fairchild Air Force Base will expand water testing and install 60 filtration systems to address PFAS contamination affecting West Plains residents.
Officials from Fairchild, the state Department of Ecology and the Environmental Protection Agency held a community meeting Thursday to outline next steps for residents dealing with contaminated water from firefighting foam.
The contamination stems from firefighting foam used at Fairchild Air Force Base and Spokane International Airport. PFAS was first detected in Spokane in 2017.
Dr. Ravi Ravichandran, the PFAS lead for the U.S. Air Force, said officials understand more work is needed.
“We understand there’s more to do. There’s concern from the community, there’s more people to address, more communities to address,” Ravichandran said. “Our next step is we’re going to install filtration systems in homes.”
Fairchild will install the 60 filtration systems starting this fall and test additional wells in areas not previously checked.
The expanded testing area includes Jim Hendricks’ neighborhood, located outside the area where Spokane and Spokane County handle testing. Hendricks said he’s optimistic about the expanded resources.
“It’s very exciting knowing that they’re going to extend the testing area,” Hendricks said. “I know people have not been tested, or they just moved in and they don’t know about their well status. It’s going to help out a lot.”
Hendricks installed a whole-home filter at his own expense. The Department of Ecology provided him with resources to contact about potential reimbursement.
The meeting featured displays explaining how PFAS entered the water supply and what Fairchild has done to install filters for impacted homes since 2017.
© 2026 KAYU FOX 28. All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted without written permission.
