AFFF Exposure and Civilian Firefighters: Legal Rights, Health Risks, and Compensation

Every day, firefighters across America answer the call to protect lives and communities from devastating fires. But for decades, the very tool designed to keep firefighters safe — Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) — has placed them in harm’s way.

AFFF, widely used in firefighting for its ability to extinguish flammable liquid fires, contains toxic chemicals known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These compounds, referred to as “forever chemicals,” are linked to a range of serious health conditions. Civilian firefighters — from career professionals in metropolitan departments to volunteer responders in small towns — have faced some of the highest occupational exposures.

Keefe Law Firm is committed to representing firefighters and their families nationwide in the AFFF lawsuits now underway. We fight to hold chemical manufacturers accountable for the hidden dangers of PFAS exposure and to secure justice for those who risked everything in service to their communities.

How Firefighters Were Exposed to AFFF

Unlike most workers, firefighters experienced direct, repeated contact with AFFF throughout their careers. Exposure occurred in many ways, including:

  • Live Fire Training – Foam was discharged repeatedly during drills simulating fuel-based fires.
  • Emergency Response – Firefighters deployed AFFF in vehicle accidents, chemical spills, and structural fires involving flammable liquids.
  • Protective Gear Contamination – Foam soaked into turnout gear, creating lingering contact risks even after a response ended.
  • Firehouse Runoff – Residual AFFF was often washed into drains or soils around firehouses, contaminating the immediate environment.
  • Community Water Supplies – Many municipalities have since discovered PFAS from firehouse runoff in groundwater and public drinking systems.

Firefighters were never warned about these risks. Instead, manufacturers marketed AFFF as safe and essential — even as their internal studies revealed troubling toxicity.

Why AFFF Is a Hidden Danger

PFAS chemicals are highly persistent in both the environment and the human body. They accumulate over time, meaning a firefighter who participated in hundreds of training sessions or responses may have sustained significant exposure without realizing it.

Research shows PFAS bind to proteins in blood and tissues, disrupting hormone function, damaging organs, and increasing cancer risks. Unlike smoke exposure, which firefighters have long recognized as a hazard, the dangers of PFAS were concealed. This makes AFFF one of the most insidious threats firefighters have faced in modern history.

Health Risks Linked to PFAS Exposure

Civilian firefighters exposed to AFFF face elevated risks of several cancers and chronic diseases. Studies have consistently shown associations between PFAS exposure and:

  • Kidney cancer
  • Testicular cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Thyroid cancer and thyroid disease
  • Ulcerative colitis

In addition to cancer, PFAS exposure may contribute to immune system suppression, fertility issues, and developmental problems in children. Because these illnesses often emerge years after exposure, many retired firefighters are only now receiving diagnoses tied to AFFF.

The Environmental Impact of Firehouse Contamination

Firefighter exposure is only one part of the story. Decades of foam discharge during drills and incidents have led to contamination of firehouse grounds, training facilities, and nearby communities.

Municipal water supplies near fire stations have tested positive for PFAS at alarming levels, placing both firefighters’ families and surrounding neighborhoods at risk. These findings highlight that the AFFF problem extends beyond occupational health — it is a community-wide crisis.

Legal Action: The AFFF Lawsuit

In recognition of the widespread harm caused by firefighting foam, thousands of lawsuits have been filed nationwide against AFFF manufacturers. These claims are now consolidated in a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the District of South Carolina.

Key developments:

  • More than 10,000 lawsuits are pending as of mid-2025.
  • The first bellwether trial had been scheduled for October 2025 and is pending rescheduling, focusing on cancers linked to PFAS exposure.
  • Plaintiffs include both civilian firefighters and municipalities forced to address PFAS contamination.

The lawsuits allege that manufacturers knew about the dangers of PFAS for decades yet failed to warn the public or provide safer alternatives. Civilian firefighters are central to this litigation because of their high exposure levels and well-documented illness rates.

Eligibility for Firefighters

You may be eligible to file an AFFF lawsuit if you:

  • Worked as a career or volunteer firefighter (municipal, industrial, or airport)
  • Were exposed to firefighting foam in training or emergency response
  • Have been diagnosed with a cancer or illness linked to PFAS, such as kidney, testicular, prostate, liver, or thyroid cancer, or ulcerative colitis

Claims are evaluated on an individual basis, taking into account your service history, medical records, and exposure circumstances.

What Compensation May Cover

Successful lawsuits may provide compensation for:

  • Medical expenses (past, current, and future)
  • Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Ongoing monitoring or treatment needs
  • Wrongful death damages for surviving families

For many firefighters and their loved ones, this compensation can help offset the financial and emotional toll of illnesses caused by AFFF.

Steps Firefighters Should Take Now

If you believe you’ve been impacted, here’s how to protect your rights:

  1. Collect Your Records – Gather fire department service records, training logs, or employment history showing AFFF exposure.
  2. Get Medical Documentation – Secure your cancer or illness diagnosis and treatment history.
  3. Note Exposure Details – Record where and when you used AFFF, including training exercises and incident responses.
  4. Consult an Experienced Attorney – An attorney familiar with AFFF lawsuits can evaluate your case and guide you through the MDL process.

Keefe Law Firm: Fighting for Firefighters

Keefe Law Firm has been on the frontlines of PFAS litigation since its start. We represent firefighters across the country who are now facing illnesses tied to AFFF exposure. Our mission is to:

  • Hold manufacturers accountable for failing to warn about PFAS dangers.
  • Recover compensation for firefighters and their families.
  • Protect communities impacted by firehouse contamination.

We bring decades of experience in complex environmental and product liability litigation — and we never treat clients as case numbers. Our attorneys provide the personalized attention and aggressive advocacy firefighters deserve.

Contact Us Today

Firefighters dedicate their lives to protecting others. They should never have been put at risk by the very tools designed to keep them safe.

If you or a loved one served as a firefighter and later developed cancer or another illness linked to AFFF, you may be eligible for compensation. Keefe Law Firm offers free, confidential consultations to help you understand your options.

Contact us today to learn more about filing an AFFF lawsuit for firefighters and taking the next step towards justice.