AFFF Lawsuit: Latest Firefighter Foam Lawsuit Updates (2025)

What is Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF)?

AFFF is a fire suppressant used primarily to extinguish petroleum-based fires in military, aviation, and industrial settings. It spreads a thin aqueous film that rapidly cuts off the oxygen supply, suffocating the fire and preventing reignition by creating a cooling barrier. AFFF is particularly useful for large-scale fire emergencies, such as airport fires or in a military context, where fires must be rapidly extinguished to avoid fatalities and extensive damage.

Though extremely effective, AFFF has come under scrutiny. Researchers continue to uncover significant health risks and environmental concerns stemming from its chemical composition. AFFF contains per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS. As a result, many of the industries dependent on AFFF and regulatory bodies are now seeking alternatives to the firefighting foam.

Why AFFF is Considered Dangerous

The use of AFFF poses significant health and environmental risks. PFAS includes more than 9,000 synthetic chemicals used in consumer and industrial products worldwide. Dubbed “forever chemicals,” PFAS don’t break down easily and can accumulate over time in the environment and the human body.

Forever chemicals are linked to poor health outcomes, including cancer, increased cholesterol levels, and immune system effects. Apart from long-term detrimental health effects, exposure to PFAS can also cause immediate symptoms, including headaches and dizziness, respiratory distress and eye and skin irritation. Additionally, PFAS contamination can seep into groundwater and soil, threatening entire communities.

If you were exposed to AFFF, whether during your military service or elsewhere and developed a disease linked to AFFF or PFAS, you could qualify for an AFFF settlement. Fill in our form for a free case review today to clarify your rights and the next best steps.

Health Risks Associated with AFFF

PFAS, which makes up part of AFFF, is known to have detrimental impacts on the health of those exposed to firefighting foam. Here are some significant health risks linked to PFAS:

• Cancer. Exposure to PFAS chemicals in AFFF is linked to a variety of cancers, such as kidney, testicular cancer and breast cancer
• Hormonal disruption. PFAS are known endocrine disruptors. They have been linked to hormonal imbalances that may have a detrimental effect on fertility, increase the risk of thyroid problems, and have other harmful health impacts.
• Immune system dysfunction. PFAS compounds can weaken the immune system, potentially reducing the body’s ability to fight infections. A compromised immune system also reduces the efficacy of childhood vaccinations.
• Birth defects and developmental issues. Prenatal exposure to PFAS has been linked to low birth weight, high blood pressure in expecting mothers, pre-eclampsia, and developmental delays in children.
• Liver damage. Long-term exposure to AFFF chemicals can cause changes in liver enzymes, resulting in conditions such as a non-alcoholic fatty liver.

In addition to the listed diseases, PFAS can cause other negative health effects. If you were exposed to AFFF and developed an illness or concerning symptoms, visit a doctor promptly for diagnosis and treatment.

What is the AFFF Lawsuit?

AFFF lawsuits are currently part of a multidistrict litigation (MDL.) Unlike a class action lawsuit, an MDL involves several individual lawsuits rather than a large one representing a group of plaintiffs. The court treats the claims separately but manages them under the same procedures to promote efficiency.

The MDL concerning firefighter claims started in 2021 and consolidated cases in the United States Southern District of North Carolina. Currently, there are over 8,000 cases in AFFF litigation.

These cases indicate that firefighters developed cancer due to AFFF exposure, mainly during field accidents, industrial fires, jet fuel fires and military operations. Plaintiffs include the firefighters and surviving loved ones of firefighters who died of their cancers.

Science backs these claims solidly. Occupational Medicine published a study showing firefighters are 60% more likely to die of cancer than the general population. Prostate cancer deaths were four times higher, leukemia was three times higher, and kidney cancer deaths were twice the rate of those in the general population. The study indicated chemical exposure, including AFFF, contributed to these outcomes.

The lawsuits seek damages arising from these illnesses. Damages include medical costs, pain and suffering, lost wages, lost earning potential and loss of support or companionship (in wrongful death cases.) Class action and MDL lawsuits base damage awards on a tier system.

Cumulative Total and Pending AFFF Lawsuit Cases

This graph illustrates how AFFF lawsuits, including pending litigation, have skyrocketed from just over 2,000 cases filed in 2022 to more than five times that number at the end of 2024. This exponential and steady increase in lawsuits is likely driven by increased public awareness of the dangers of AFFF and PFAS. The number of individuals bringing lawsuits to seek justice and compensation for the adverse health impacts caused by AFFF exposure is expected to rise into 2025 and beyond.

AFFF Statute of Limitations

A statute of limitations is a time limit from the date of injury to when you can file a lawsuit. Depending on state law, statutes of limitations in chemical exposure claims range from two to four years. Filing an AFFF lawsuit before your state’s deadline is crucial as filing too late could prevent you from recovering compensation.

However, the clock generally only starts ticking on the date you became aware of your illness–not the moment of exposure. For example, you may be retired from firefighting for 10 years, but if you receive a cancer diagnosis, that’s the date your statute of limitations starts counting down.

So, if your doctor informed you of a cancer diagnosis on August 1, 2023, and your state has a three-year statute of limitations, you have until August 1, 2026 to file.

It is often worth speaking to a lawyer, even if you feel it is too late. Claims involving medical diagnoses are often flexible under some state laws, or there are circumstances you may not know can help your case. Consultations are free, so there is nothing to lose by seeing if you qualify for compensation.

AFFF Manufacturer Defendants

The most common defendants in these lawsuits are AFFF manufacturers. Named defendants so far include:

• Tyco Fire Products
• 3M Company
• Dupont
• Kiddr Fire Fighting
• Chemguard
• Chemours Company
• Buckeye Fire Equipment
• BASF Corp.
• Arkema, Inc.

This list of manufacturer defendants is not exhaustive, and there may be other corporations involved in AFFF compensation claims. Investigations have revealed that some of these manufacturers knew of AFFF’s health risks, yet they continued to market and distribute this product to fire departments across the nation.

Settlement Amounts and Projections

No two AFFF lawsuits are the same, and settlement amounts can vary significantly depending on factors like the extent of your illness or injury due to AFFF exposure, your medical expenses and other losses, and the extent of your exposure to the harmful substance. While no universal AFFF settlement amount exists, individuals with severe health impacts due to PFAS exposure have recovered five- and six-figure settlements.

The next few years could see billions of dollars in recovery for those affected, particularly if cases are consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL), where many plaintiffs come together rather than filing individual lawsuits.

While no amount of compensation can turn back the time and restore your health, a fair settlement allows you to hold the responsible party accountable and recover financial relief. If you or a family member is affected, seek legal advice promptly to clarify your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.

AFFF Use in Navy Firefighting

Navy firefighters are also filing cancer claims. Firefighting foam is highly effective on aircraft carriers, making it a staple when fires arise.

This practice has been in effect for more than 50 years. In fact, the Department of Defense (DOD) required PFAS to make the foam. As a result, more than 700 military sites in 50 states are likely contaminated with PFAS. The DOD also continues to find more contaminated sites with PFAS in drinking water and groundwater.

The DOD has since taken action to make water at military installations safer and to discontinue using PFAS products, including firefighter foam. However, the VA faces more AFFF claims, and some victims filed lawsuits.

Were You Exposed to AFFF?

If you are a civilian, military or veteran firefighter who used AFFF and subsequently developed cancer or another serious health condition, you may be eligible to pursue AFFF compensation through a lawsuit. AFFF exposure is linked to toxic PFAS chemicals that can remain in the human body for decades and increase the risk of severe diseases.

ConsumerShield can help you find a lawyer to represent you, so you receive the compensation you deserve. Complete the online form today get started.