Austin Fire Chief Joel Baker apologized Monday to the Tanglewood Forest neighborhood in South Austin, 12 days after residents reported foamy, smelly water in their homes. On January 22, firefighters responded to the Westoak Woods Baptist Church, near Slaughter Lane and West Gate Boulevard, for an accidental electrical fire. Firefighters used water to put out the blaze but decided to switch to foam. The firefighters used one engine to pump foam while it was still connected to a fire hydrant, and the engine’s pressure was slightly greater. This allowed backflow into the hydrant, causing the water to be contaminated with the foam, officials said. The foam is nontoxic and biodegradable soap, officials said. Austin Water officials put paper notices on doors Jan. 22 saying the utility had received comments about water quality along Aftonshire Way, Nightjar Drive, Sugar Hill Drive and Curlew Drive.

<p>Austin Fire Chief Joel Baker apologized Monday to the Tanglewood Forest neighborhood in South Austin, 12 days after residents reported foamy, smelly water in their homes. On January 22, firefighters responded to the Westoak Woods Baptist Church, near Slaughter Lane and West Gate Boulevard, for an accidental electrical fire. Firefighters used water to put out the blaze but decided to switch to foam. The firefighters used one engine to pump foam while it was still connected to a fire hydrant, and the engine&rsquo;s pressure was slightly greater. This allowed backflow into the hydrant, causing the water to be contaminated with the foam, officials said. The foam is nontoxic and biodegradable soap, officials said. Austin Water officials put paper notices on doors Jan. 22 saying the utility had received comments about water quality along Aftonshire Way, Nightjar Drive, Sugar Hill Drive and Curlew Drive.</p>

News Briefs from the Austin American Statesman, Austin, TX

<p>News Briefs from the Austin American Statesman, Austin, TX</p>

Austin News Briefs - Austin American Statesman

Austin - Austin Fire Department apologizes for foamy, smelly water in South Austin last month

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