By Treven Pyles on January 30th, 2026 in PFAS/AFFF
When Florida's Department of Environmental Protection began investigating fire training facilities in 2018, the agency surveyed 45 certified locations across the state. The results revealed something firefighters had suspected for years: the foam they used in training drills left behind contamination that doesn't go away.
The investigation focused on 26 locations where aqueous film-forming foam was deployed during Class B fire training. Environmental testing at these locations detected PFAS chemicals in both soil and groundwater. Out of 25 active training facilities examined, 22 showed PFOA and PFOS concentrations that exceeded Florida's provisional groundwater cleanup target levels.
For decades, fire training academies used AFFF to prepare firefighters for suppressing liquid fuel fires. The foam suppresses fires by forming a protective layer that both contains fumes and cuts off airflow to burning fuel. This fast knockdown ability made AFFF the preferred choice for training firefighters who would work at airports, industrial facilities, and emergency response teams handling chemical fires.
AFFF became part of the curriculum for Firefighter I and Firefighter II certifications at fire academies. Trainees practiced mixing foam concentrates at proper ratios, choosing the right nozzles and eductors, and applying foam with sweep, bank-shot, and rain-down techniques. Each method required significant volumes of foam to completely cover training fires, so instructors and students worked surrounded by AFFF during every drill.
The DEP assessment identified training sites throughout Florida where firefighters encountered PFAS-containing foam. If your academy training or refresher courses took place at any of these facilities, you probably had contact with AFFF:
The DEP continues to monitor these locations and update its assessment list, indicating that PFAS contamination remains an ongoing concern rather than a resolved historical issue.
Firefighters encountered PFAS through multiple channels during live-fire drills. Foam landed on their protective gear and skin as they applied it. Instructors and trainees inhaled airborne particles when foam was sprayed across training sites. Storage and application equipment retained PFAS residue that rubbed off during setup and cleanup operations.
Contamination at training areas was confirmed through soil and groundwater samples showing these chemicals. Firefighters who trained here also deployed AFFF at real fires, accumulating exposure over their entire careers.
PFAS got tagged as "forever chemicals" because they won't break down naturally or inside the body. PFOA and PFOS collect in blood and organs over time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has detected PFAS in the blood of almost every American tested, but firefighters have elevated levels from workplace exposure.
Research has connected PFAS exposure to multiple health conditions that appear at elevated rates among firefighters:
Studies have also documented liver damage, kidney impairment, immune system problems, and hormonal disruptions in people with high PFAS levels.
The DEP now prohibits facilities with elevated PFAS from using foam containing these chemicals. Sites must dispose of existing AFFF stocks properly and create plans to contain or remove contamination. Despite these efforts, legacy contamination remains at many training grounds even as the industry moves away from PFAS-based products.
In coordination with the Florida Department of Health, the DEP works on drinking water concerns at affected facilities. However, these remediation efforts focus on preventing future exposure and do not address the health impacts that firefighters may already be experiencing from years of contact with AFFF during their training and service.
ELG Law has spent over 35 years helping people who developed cancer from toxic exposure. If you trained at any of these facilities and later developed kidney cancer, testicular cancer, bladder cancer, liver cancer, thyroid cancer, ulcerative colitis, or thyroid disease, you might qualify for an AFFF claim. Contact ELG Law for a free case evaluation as soon as possible. We'll review your employment history and medical records to determine whether you have grounds for a claim.