PFAS compounds in these formulations accumulate in the kidneys, contributing to kidney and testicular cancer risk.
Military bases
Washington is home to several major military installations where Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting units and Department of Defense fire departments historically used AFFF during aircraft emergencies, fuel-fire incidents, and training. Installations include:
- Joint Base Lewis-McChord
- Naval Air Station Whidbey Island
- Fairchild Air Force Base
- Naval Base Kitsap (Bangor and Bremerton)
- Yakima Training Center
- Camp Murray
Airports
Airport firefighters are among the occupations most consistently linked to AFFF exposure, since certificated commercial airports were historically required to maintain foam for aircraft fuel fires. Dedicated ARFF departments at Washington's airports operate specialized foam apparatus and conduct ongoing live-fire training to meet these standards. Major airports include:
- Seattle-Tacoma International
- Spokane International
- Paine Field
- Tri-Cities Airport
- Bellingham International
- Yakima Air Terminal
- Pullman-Moscow Regional
- Pangborn Memorial
Volunteer fire departments
Rural counties and smaller communities across Washington depend on numerous volunteer and combination fire departments. Crews encountered AFFF while responding to highway tanker crashes, fuel storage fires, and marina fuel fires. These include:
- McLane Black Lake Fire Department
- Vashon Island Fire & Rescue
- East Jefferson Fire Rescue
- Mason County Fire Districts
Fire training facilities
The Washington State Fire Training Academy in North Bend is certified to conduct live-fire training with jet fuel, diesel, and gasoline at its flammable-liquid burn pads. The Washington State Firefighters JATC and regional academies in Thurston, Tri-Cities, and Clark County also delivered decades of foam-based training.