By Treven Pyles
Posted on October 01st, 2025
Being a volunteer firefighter is a noble profession, but it comes with great risks. To help firefighters struggling with cancer tied to PFAS exposure, the Senate proposed Bill No. 4013, or the Firefighters PFAS Injury Compensation Act. Once enacted, eligible firefighters, including volunteers and those working part-time, may get the support they deserve.
Until recently, firefighters around the country were unaware of the health risks associated with PFAS found in their protective gear and AFFF. Research shows that constant exposure to these "forever chemicals" may lead to increased risks of developing several health issues. These include chronic ones and certain types of cancer. In fact, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified PFOA, a type of PFAS, as a known human carcinogen. PFOA is just one of the many PFAS compounds found in typical firefighting foam formulations.
How volunteer and part-time firefighters file for PFAS compensation
Under the Firefighters PFAS Injury Compensation Act, only firefighters with active firefighting roles are eligible to receive financial support. These include volunteer, on-call, and part-time firefighters.
Aside from carrying out actual firefighting jobs, those assigned to lead training exercises or drills may also be qualified. If you are a volunteer or part-time firefighter, you must present the following evidence and documents to support your claim:
- Employment or training records indicating actual firefighting tasks
- Incident reports
- Service logs showing you have rendered at least two years of active firefighting tasks
- Medical diagnosis confirming your PFAS-connected disease
Additionally, it is important to note that volunteer and part-time firefighters must have been diagnosed with linkable cancer during or after service in order to be eligible to file claims.
The impact of PFAS on volunteer firefighters
Volunteer and part-time firefighters make up the majority of the firefighting community in the United States. According to the latest numbers from FEMA, 52% of the country's firefighter population happened to be volunteers, while 13% were paid per-call firefighters.
Like all firefighters, they have a higher chance of getting diagnosed with PFAS-linked cancer than the rest of the population. In 2021, researchers from Rutgers University reported that volunteer firefighters have elevated levels of PFAS concentrations in their blood systems.
Legal assistance for all PFAS-exposed firefighters
PFAS exposure impacts all firefighters, whether career or volunteer. If you've been diagnosed with cancer connected to PFAS exposure, you deserve legal support, and our team at ELG Law can help you. We believe every firefighter deserves equal access to justice when cancer arises from AFFF exposure.
We work on a contingency basis and provide free case evaluations. Whether you volunteered for decades or worked part-time shifts, your sacrifice should not go unrecognized. ELG Law can help you take action against AFFF manufacturers and pursue the compensation you need.
