Legal Options for Air Force Fire Protection Specialists Exposed to Firefighting Foam

Fire Protection Specialists in the Air Force are responsible for protecting people, property, and the environment during fires and emergencies. They fight structural fires, fires involving hazardous materials, and fires involving jet or rocket fuel. As a result of direct, frequent contact with toxic PFAS chemicals within AFFF, there is a significantly higher exposure risk compared to other military roles. If you are seeking VA disability benefits or filing an AFFF claim, ELG Law can assist you during the process and help you secure what you are entitled to.

Why Air Force Fire Protection Specialists Face High Exposure

Fire Protection Specialists manage and operate fire alarm communication centers, inspect fire suppression equipment and vehicles, handle hazardous materials incidents with specialized HazMat training, and conduct extensive AFFF training exercises. Their work requires constant readiness to respond to unpredictable emergency situations on Air Force bases where AFFF was stored and routinely deployed.

Following approximately 9-10 weeks of specialized technical training, usually at Goodfellow Air Force Base in Texas, these specialists gain years of hands-on experience with foam systems. Career progression includes opportunities for specialized certifications such as HazMat Technician, Driver/Operator, and Fire Officer, each involving additional AFFF exposure through training and operational duties.

Aviation and military environments create unique exposure scenarios. AFFF is the primary suppression agent used by Air Force Fire Protection Specialists to respond to aircraft emergencies, fuel fires, and hazardous materials incidents. Years or decades of repeated, intensive contact with foam concentrates cause significant PFAS body burdens.

Two Primary Legal Avenues for Compensation

• VA Disability Claims: Veterans with cancer they believe are service-related may file a claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The exposure to AFFF during military service may result in conditions for which veterans can seek compensation. The military does not presuppose PFAS exposure, but medical evidence and service documentation are used to evaluate claims on an individual basis.
• Lawsuits Against AFFF Manufacturers: Large multidistrict litigation and numerous private suits target manufacturers and distributors of AFFF and PFAS chemicals. Major settlements have already been reached, including multi-hundred-million and multi-billion dollar agreements involving AFFF manufacturers.

Fire Protection Specialists are entitled to recover compensation for medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and ongoing health monitoring. Unlike VA claims, AFFF claims can provide compensation for the full scope of damages caused by PFAS exposure.

Critical Evidence for Your Claim

A court or claims reviewer will look for specific documentation to establish your exposure:

• Records showing assignments at bases where AFFF was stored or used
• Training logs and duty logs documenting AFFF use during drills, tests, or maintenance of foam systems
• PFAS-related diagnoses, including cancers identified in litigation, in medical records
• Air Force installations that have been contaminated with PFAS, according to environmental reports
• Biomonitoring results showing serum PFAS levels

You can create a compelling timeline connecting your military service to AFFF exposure and subsequent health conditions based on your specialized training records, assignment history, and incident response logs.

ELG Law Represents Air Force Fire Protection Specialists

During their duties protecting others, Air Force Fire Protection Specialists unknowingly exposed themselves to toxic chemicals. ELG Law has experience representing veterans across all military branches in AFFF exposure cases.

Our attorneys handle both VA disability claims and AFFF claims, determining which approach maximizes your compensation. With our experience working with military firefighters, we know where to find training logs, base assignment records, and environmental contamination reports that can strengthen your case.

Get a free case evaluation from ELG Law today. To determine your eligibility for compensation, we will examine your service history, medical diagnosis, and available documentation.