AFFF Firefighter I: Understanding entry-level exposure

Even if you've only had your entry-level firefighter certification for a few years, you may have been exposed to toxic chemicals in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) while performing your duties. This could be due to handling AFFF in emergencies, attending fire classes, or working near sites with AFFF spills. If you later developed cancer after at least two years as a firefighter, your medical condition may be linked to your exposure to AFFF.

How a firefighter may be exposed to AFFF early in their career

If you've had your Firefighter 1 certification for several years and have been working as a career or volunteer firefighter, you might have already been exposed to legacy AFFF stocks that are based on PFAS chemicals. While AFFF stocks are being phased out, the military and fire departments across the U.S. still require months or years to fully transition to non-fluorinated foams. You may have encountered AFFF products at times in your duties, such as:

• Portable fire extinguisher classes for Firefighter 1. In training for a Firefighter 1 certification, firefighters must familiarize themselves with different types of fires and which fire extinguisher types must be used for each. You may have encountered AFFF if you were asked to extinguish live class B fires in a simulation training. You may be able to retrieve academy records of past firefighting drills or scheduled training to show proof of AFFF exposure that may help your claim.
• Emergency response duties as a Firefighter 1. This type of exposure may be occasional, but it is often high-volume. If you have been serving as a Firefighter 1 for several years now, you must have already experienced different types of emergency situations, including the use of AFFF in Class B fires. You may check your department's records to look for documentation of AFFF use while you were on duty.
• Continuous fire education and training. A firefighter's education does not end with completing the Fire Academy. Both career and volunteer firefighters still have to undergo additional classes, refreshers, and training on fire suppression, disaster control, and many other skills. Unfortunately, through continuous training, entry-level firefighters may get more exposure to AFFF when classes involve live Class B fire simulations to be extinguished by AFFF. This type of exposure is often periodic and high-volume.
• Working in areas near AFFF spills. Over the years, spills and leaks from equipment with AFFF have been recorded. If you worked in areas with known documented AFFF leaks, your exposure may be connected to your diagnosed condition. The chemicals in AFFF, called PFAS, are easily absorbed in the body and accumulate in the blood and organs.

Medical conditions that qualify for entry-level firefighter AFFF claims

AFFF is now being phased out and replaced due to extensive evidence showing how PFAS in the foam can harm the environment and human health. These chemicals have also been connected to different types of cancer. If you served as an entry-level firefighter for at least two years, you may be able to file an AFFF claim if you were diagnosed with any of the following linkable cancers:

• Kidney cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Liver cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Male breast cancer
• Thyroid cancer

File your AFFF claim with ELG Law

Many states have already banned the use of AFFF in firefighting training, but it can still be used to extinguish liquid fires in emergency situations. Before the ban, certain states continued to use AFFF for training as late as 2022. If you are an early-career firefighter who has been diagnosed with any of the linkable cancers mentioned, you may be eligible to file an AFFF claim as long as you meet the two-year requirement. Contact ELG Law to get a free case evaluation.