JBSA Lackland firefighters: Exposed to AFFF? Here’s what you need to know

No matter if you wear the military uniform or serve as a civilian firefighter employed by the federal government, the job is the same. You respond to aircraft emergencies, handle hazmat, and fight structural fires. Most importantly, you both used the same AFFF (PFAS-based firefighting foam) during training and emergency situations.

Civilian and military firefighters at JBSA Lackland are on the same mission and face the same PFAS exposure risks

According to the 2025 Government Accountability Office report, the DoD is the largest employer of civilian firefighters in the federal government, employing an approximate total number of 8,800 as of 2024 - about 95% of the total number of all federal structural civilian firefighters. At JBSA, these civilians provide core staffing and continuity, sustaining the department's operational capabilities during periods of military personnel rotation or deployment.

However, because civilian firefighters remain on base for years, they endure long-term exposure. If you served as a civilian firefighter at Lackland, you were almost certainly in contact with PFAS ‘forever chemicals,’ just as much as, if not more than, the rotating military staff.

Proving your exposure using the federal records every civilian firefighter needs for an AFFF claim

For military members, service records are standard, but for civilian firefighters, proving you were at that flight line or at the burn pit requires specific government documents. They are your “golden tickets” for an AFFF claim:

• The SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) is the official document that reflects the position title, service dates, and duty stations.
• The eOPF (Electronic Official Personnel Folder): This contains your entire employment history.

If you are currently employed, you may retrieve these documents through your base HR department. If you have already left the job, your records have likely moved to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). Requesting these files is the first step towards proving that your work at JBSA exposed you to PFAS chemicals.

Understanding your legal options after PFAS exposure at JBSA Lackland

If you served at JBSA Lackland and developed a linkable disease after using AFFF, you may be entitled to pursue an AFFF claim. Our attorneys are available to assist federal employees in obtaining the documents they need and in determining whether they were exposed to dangerous chemicals. Even if it has been many years since you were stationed at Lackland, it's still possible to make a claim and have it as strong as possible to ensure that you are compensated. Contact us today and explore your options with Environmental Litigation Group.