By Michael Bartlett on October 01st, 2025 in PFAS/AFFF
While every AFFF case is unique, a two-year minimum requirement serves as the benchmark for filing AFFF claims for both career and volunteer firefighters. By the time you've served for two years in your department, you would typically have enough documentation to prove your AFFF exposure and file an AFFF claim.
It's difficult to estimate the amount of exposure a firefighter gets in their first few years because the qualifications and training vary, depending on the fire department. If you were hired with zero experience, you probably spent your first few months getting your Firefighter I and Firefighter II certifications, then another set of months as a probationary firefighter. There is a high chance that you may have encountered aqueous film-forming foam in the following duties or activities:
In a study published in 2019, researchers found that a third (33%) of the fire departments in Florida used AFFF in about two (2) to five (5) fire calls per year. Almost 17% of these fire departments used AFFF more than 16 times a year, and these departments were mainly medium-sized, employing hundreds of firefighters. In another survey in Maine, 70% of fire departments reported using AFFF. Out of the fire departments that used AFFF, half reported that the foam was used only rarely.
Civilian fire departments mostly used AFFF occasionally, but the danger lies in the cumulative exposure of firefighters over the years. By the time you have served as a firefighter for at least two years, you are already likely to have documented exposure to AFFF.
Firefighters are at a higher risk of developing cancer than the general population, mainly due to the long-term exposure to cancer-causing chemicals, like the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in AFFF. In particular, the following cancers have been strongly associated with these cancer-causing chemicals:
If you were diagnosed with any of these conditions that are associated with PFAS in AFFF, please contact us, as you may be eligible for an AFFF claim.
Even if you're still an early-career firefighter, you may be able to qualify for an AFFF claim for cancer as long as you have served the minimum two-year requirement. At no cost to you, our attorneys can evaluate your employment records and medical documents to check if you're eligible. Schedule a consultation with our attorneys to get your case evaluated.