PFAS in Firefighting Foam: AFFF Claims, Defendants, and What Firefighters Can Recover

Aqueous film-forming foam — AFFF — was the firefighting industry's gold standard for fuel fire suppression for more than five decades. It was also a delivery mechanism for massive PFAS exposure. Firefighters who trained with or used AFFF absorbed PFOS, PFOA, and related chemicals through their skin, lungs, and contaminated drinking water. The cancer rates in this population are among the highest documented in any PFAS-exposed group. Here is what firefighters and their families need to know.

What Is AFFF and Why Does It Contain PFAS?

Aqueous film-forming foam is a water-based firefighting suppressant designed to knock down and suppress fires involving hydrocarbon fuels — jet fuel, aviation fuel, gasoline. It was developed jointly by 3M and the U.S. Navy in the 1960s and became mandatory at military airfields and civilian airports. The foam works by forming a thin film over the burning fuel surface, cutting off oxygen supply.

The specific chemistry that makes AFFF so effective involves PFAS compounds, particularly PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid). These chemicals create the unique film-forming properties of the foam. Without them, the product doesn't work as intended. But their persistence and toxicity — the very characteristics that make them effective — are also what make them dangerous.

AFFF was widely used not just for actual fires but for training exercises. Military and civilian firefighters conducted live-fire training exercises involving hundreds of gallons of AFFF multiple times per year for their entire careers. Some training areas saw AFFF applications measured in tens of thousands of gallons annually over decades.

How Firefighters Were Exposed

PFAS exposure in firefighters occurred through multiple pathways:

Direct dermal contact: AFFF was applied without adequate protective equipment for most of its history. Firefighters made direct skin contact with foam during training and operations. PFOS and PFOA are absorbed through skin.

Inhalation: AFFF application creates aerosols and mists. Firefighters inhaled PFAS-containing foam particles during training and responses. Hot fire environments can further volatilize PFAS compounds.

Contaminated drinking water: Training areas where AFFF was repeatedly applied became PFAS contamination zones. The chemicals leached into groundwater that fed base and facility water supplies. Firefighters consumed PFAS-contaminated water for years.

Contaminated protective gear: Some PFAS exposure studies have found that the turnout gear worn by structural firefighters — which often contains PFAS for water resistance — may itself be a significant exposure source independent of AFFF.

The Cancer Burden in Firefighters

The elevated cancer risk in firefighters has been documented for decades. A landmark 2022 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) study of more than 30,000 career firefighters found significantly elevated rates of several cancers compared to the general population. PFAS exposure is one factor contributing to this excess cancer burden, along with other occupational carcinogen exposures.

Studies specifically examining AFFF-exposed firefighters — particularly military aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) personnel — have found particularly elevated rates of kidney cancer and testicular cancer, consistent with the PFAS cancer link documented in other high-exposure populations.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has called cancer "the leading cause of firefighter line-of-duty deaths" based on the cumulative data. PFAS litigation represents one avenue for firefighters affected by this occupational burden to seek accountability from the manufacturers who concealed what they knew about PFAS toxicity.

Who Are the AFFF Defendants?

AFFF personal injury litigation targets the manufacturers and distributors of AFFF products, not the fire departments or military branches that used them. The primary defendants include:

• 3M Company: The primary manufacturer of PFOS-based PFAS compounds used in AFFF. Internal documents show 3M was aware of PFAS bioaccumulation in humans by at least the 1970s.
• DuPont / Chemours / Corteva: DuPont manufactured PFOA and related compounds and licensed PFAS technology to AFFF manufacturers.
• Tyco Fire Products (Johnson Controls): One of the largest AFFF manufacturers. Tyco's National Foam brand was widely used in military and aviation applications.
• Kidde-Fenwal (UTC Fire and Security): Another major AFFF manufacturer.
• Buckeye Fire Equipment: A significant AFFF manufacturer with products distributed to military and aviation users.
• Chemguard (ICL Performance Products): An AFFF formulator and distributor.

The AFFF MDL (MDL 2873) in the District of South Carolina has addressed complex issues around which defendants bear responsibility for AFFF used at specific locations and during specific time periods.

MDL 2873: The AFFF Litigation Status

MDL 2873 is one of the largest mass torts in U.S. history by case count. The litigation is divided into tracks: municipal water system claims (largely resolved for 3M and DuPont by the 2023-2024 settlements) and personal injury claims. The personal injury track, involving firefighters and contaminated-community residents who developed cancer, remains active.

As of early 2026, the PI track is in active litigation. No global personal injury settlement has been announced for the major defendants. Bellwether PI trials have been scheduled and litigated, with ongoing proceedings shaping the picture for eventual global resolution. For the most current MDL status, see our PFAS MDL 2026 update.

What Firefighters Need to File a Claim

To pursue an AFFF personal injury claim, you will need to document:

• Your employment as a firefighter (career, military ARFF, or industrial) and approximate dates of service
• The specific facilities where you worked and used AFFF (base names, airport identifiers, or employer records)
• A qualifying diagnosis — kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, bladder cancer, or other PFAS-linked condition
• Medical records documenting the diagnosis and treatment
• PFAS blood serum results, if available