By Michael Bartlett on September 23rd, 2025 in PFAS/AFFF
Firefighters with full-time careers often receive the most attention when discussing AFFF exposure and its devastating health effects. PFAS exposure is also a concern for volunteer firefighters and part-time firefighters, but many of them are unaware of their rights and the compensation they may be entitled to.
Volunteers and part-timers train alongside full-time crews, facing the same hazardous chemical exposures. No matter one's employment status, AFFF exposure occurs during training exercises, airport drills, and live fire events. Health risks associated with PFAS chemicals in AFFF remain the same for career and volunteer firefighters.
Rutgers University researchers evaluated the blood of 135 volunteer firefighters in New Jersey and found elevated levels of several PFAS chemicals. In nearly 80% of volunteers, perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) was detected, while in the majority of the general population, it was not.
The study revealed that PFAS levels among volunteer firefighters were positively correlated with years of service, with participants averaging 20 years of firefighting experience. Due to the cumulative exposure effect, volunteers with longer tenures may actually face greater health risks than career firefighters with shorter tenures.
Multiple exposure pathways affect all firefighters equally, according to researchers:
Turnout gear, including moisture barriers and outer shells, contains PFAS compounds, according to NIST studies. These chemicals can be released from protective equipment as a result of wear, washing, and weathering, posing an ongoing risk of exposure for users.
The unique circumstances of volunteer firefighters may make them more susceptible to exposure. It is common for volunteers to serve for decades, often for 20 years or more, which results in prolonged cumulative exposure. Volunteer firefighters often continue to serve after they retire, unlike career firefighters, who usually retire after a specific period of time.
While holding down full-time jobs, volunteers often respond to emergencies at all hours of the day and night. There are serious health implications associated with community service commitments that have largely been overlooked in discussions about exposure compensation.
A number of these risks have been recognized by the National Volunteer Fire Council, which has advocated for volunteer firefighters to receive the same protections as career firefighters. Legal evidence indicates that volunteer firefighters should be eligible for AFFF exposure claims, noting that even exposure during training or a single use could have significant health effects.
A part-time or volunteer firefighter who develops cancer or another serious health condition after being exposed to AFFF deserves the same legal representation and compensation as a career firefighter. Firefighters are equally affected by PFAS exposure, regardless of their employment status. ELG Law specializes in AFFF claims against manufacturers for firefighters with occupational exposure. Volunteers and part-time firefighters can support their claims with extensive training records, incident reports, and years of service logs.
Over the past 35 years, we have handled toxic exposure cases on a contingency basis, and we offer free case evaluations. Whether you volunteered for two decades or worked part-time at several departments, your exposure matters, and your health deserves protection. Don't let the fact that you are a volunteer keep you from seeking compensation. Find out how ELG Law can help you pursue justice against AFFF manufacturers and secure compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and suffering today.