Traditional AFFF formulations carried PFAS compounds that stay in the body and have been associated with kidney cancer, testicular cancer, and other serious conditions. Exposure was built up through emergency response, live-fire drills, and equipment testing throughout the state.
Military bases
Florida is home to numerous military installations where Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting units historically used AFFF to combat aviation fuel fires and conduct training, including:
- Naval Air Station Pensacola, Jacksonville, and Key West
- Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field
- MacDill Air Force Base
- Patrick Space Force Base
- Tyndall Air Force Base
- Naval Station Mayport
- Camp Blanding Joint Training Center
Airports
As a major hub for domestic and international air travel, Florida's largest airports maintained ARFF crews to meet federal aircraft fuel fire suppression standards. Firefighters trained with foam at:
- Orlando International
- Miami International
- Tampa International
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International
- Jacksonville International
- Southwest Florida International
- Palm Beach International
- Pensacola International
Volunteer fire departments
Florida has hundreds of volunteer and combination fire departments serving rural communities and smaller municipalities. Volunteer firefighters encountered AFFF while responding to highway tanker accidents, fuel storage fires, airport mutual-aid incidents, and marine fuel fires.
Fire training facilities
The Florida State Fire College in Ocala serves as the state's primary training institution. The Fire Academy of the South in Jacksonville operates a dedicated ARFF Training Center with aircraft mockups and live-fire scenarios, while Seminole State College Fire Academy uses flammable-liquid training props for realistic fire simulations.