DoD Fire Academy at Goodfellow AFB: AFFF Exposure & Claims

The foam used at sites such as Goodfellow Air Force Base contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are linked to serious health risks. If you instructed recruits, participated in fire drills, or were a training participant at a DoD school where AFFF was used, handled, or stored, and you have been diagnosed with a PFAS-related illness, you may be eligible for compensation.

How PFAS exposure first occurs during training at Goodfellow AFB

Exposure doesn't begin in active fire combat; it begins during basic training. Recruits at the DoD Fire Academy are subjected to intense training drills meant to mimic real-world disasters. These include:

• Live fire drills: extinguishing fuel fires on simulated aircraft and vehicles using AFFF
• Burn pits & simulators: these facilities mimic massive jet fuel fires, where foam application is a required skill for graduation
• Apparatus training: learning to operate fire trucks that carry and disperse large volumes of PFAS-containing foam

Regardless of whether you attended the Fire Protection Apprentice Course or advanced Hazardous Materials training, if you were at Goodfellow, you likely handled or were surrounded by these "forever chemicals." Repeated foam use means exposure through skin contact, inhalation of mist, and runoff that reached the surrounding soil and groundwater.

PFAS exposure occurs even outside of active firefighting at DoD schools

Even if they weren't actively fighting fires, anyone who participated in courses at Goodfellow - from the Fire Protection Apprentice Course to advanced programs like Fire Marshal training - could still come into contact with PFAS in several ways:

• While standing in the proximity of live-fire exercises
• Through chemicals discharged onto floors, equipment, and other nearby equipment from hangar and lab systems, including automatic foam operation or safety tests
• Fire trucks and equipment carrying foam, which produce mist, splashes, or residue
• Foam residue can settle on uniforms, boots, gloves, and training room surfaces, exposing personnel to low-level, constant contact
• During maintenance and cleanup of floors, drains, or equipment
• PFAS from runoff or drainage could reach dorms, offices, or other areas near training sites

Exposure from the scenarios above does not end at the academy; similar contact can occur throughout a military firefighter's career whenever they work with or are near AFFF, keeping PFAS risks present over time.

As PFAS are highly persistent and resistant to breakdown in the environment and the human body, repeated contact over years, even at low levels, can lead to cumulative exposure, raising the risk of several health conditions:

• Thyroid disease & cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Ulcerative colitis
• Kidney cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Liver cancer

Amidst a slow phase-out, PFAS exposure continues to affect military firefighters

While the Department of Defence is working to phase out PFAS-containing foams in favor of fluorine-free (F3) alternatives, the process is slow. Although a 2024 deadline was initially set, the law allows extensions. Due to the high costs of transitioning to fluorine-free foam (over $2.1 billion) and the challenge of replacing systems across 1,500 facilities and 6,800 vehicles, some bases may continue to use toxic AFFF until October 1, 2026.

Even now, due to the delay, new recruits and active personnel remain at risk of exposure. Safer foam alternatives often don't integrate well with existing equipment or perform poorly in extreme temperatures, "forecasting" a transition that could last years rather than months.

What you need to know to build a solid AFFF claim

For veterans and active-duty firefighters seeking compensation, documenting your time at Goodfellow AFB and other DoD training sites is essential. For a successful claim, it is helpful to document the onset of exposure and to link your training to subsequent service, thereby creating a clear chronology of your contact with the chemicals.

Here are some examples of the evidence that can make a big difference for your case:

• Service and training records: courses taken, units completed, dates, and positions held at Goodfellow or other DoD schools
• Training logs: checklists or records of attendance at fire training exercises, hangar or lab tests where AFFF was used
• Medical records: reports, imaging, and lab results, as well as diagnoses for conditions related to PFAS exposure
• Exposure timeline: a description of when and how you were exposed, how close you were to the source, how long you were exposed, and any personal protective equipment used
• Expert opinion: a medical expert confirming that your condition is likely connected to PFAS exposure

Environmental Litigation Group fights for military firefighters exposed to AFFF

With more than 35 years of experience handling toxic exposure cases and a long track record of success helping thousands of clients across the U.S., Environmental Litigation Group can support you in collecting records, organizing your exposure history, and obtaining the compensation you deserve.

We understand the challenges faced by service members exposed to PFAS and relentlessly guide them step by step to prepare a winning AFFF claim.