Nationwide Mass Tort Representation
Fire Fighting Foam (AFFF) Lawsuit
Are you a civilian or military firefighter diagnosed with cancer after exposure to firefighting foam? You may be eligible to file a lawsuit against negligent manufacturers such as Tyco, 3M, DuPont, and others.
Protecting the Heroes Harmed by Firefighting Foam
Battling fires is a known risk firefighters embrace head-on to protect people, animals, and property from harm’s way. Unfortunately, firefighters may be more vulnerable to health issues and death from the very materials made to protect them. Contaminants from fires and chemicals used in firefighting foam — a widely used solution to cool and smother tough-to-put-out fires — have unknowingly put many firefighters at risk for heart attacks, cancer, and other health issues.
The studies do not lie — from 2002 to 2019, 66 percent of career firefighter line-of-duty deaths were due to cancer alone, as the Firefighter Cancer Support Network reported. Alarmingly, firefighters die of cancer more than other groups because of long-term exposure to toxic chemicals.
Firefighters and their families can pursue a firefighting foam lawsuit with the help of Constant Legal Group. Heroes and their families should not have to grapple with difficult financial losses that come with cancer or other serious diagnoses or death linked to AFFF exposure.
How It Started: The History of Firefighting Foam (AFFF)
Firefighting foam, or aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), is a synthetic solution that smothers fuel fire, developed by the U.S. Navy in the 1960s. It stifles hydrocarbon fuel fires, especially those involving aircraft.
AFFF is effective as a fire suppressant as it cuts off the oxygen to the fire, cools it, extinguishes it, and prevents it from relighting. It was not long before all U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, major airports, and civilian fire departments started using firefighting foam to suppress fires.
AFFF foam has long been a staple in fire service. Unfortunately, the unsafe ingredients in this synthetic foam have been linked to serious, unintended consequences on the firefighters who use it and the communities they protect.
How Does Firefighting Foam Work?
AFFF foam uses a thin film to coat whatever is fueling the fire. It prevents oxygen from reaching the fuel source while also helping cool the area down. It was created to put out Class B fires that involve flammable and combustible liquids such as gasoline, alcohol, oil-based paints, and lacquers. However, when water is not used, AFFF foam is applied to almost all fires — not just Class B fires.
What Is Firefighting Foam Made Of?
Four elements comprise a potent firefighting foam: water, air, aeration, and foam concentrate. Firefighting foam concentrate is a powerhouse of chemicals, PFAS, such as perfluorooctanoic sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) that act as a “blanket” over liquid fuel so flammable vapors cannot escape. PFAS are problematic as they make people sick and linger in the environment.
Forever Chemicals
What Are PFAS?
AFFF contains per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These substances are part of a large family of artificial chemical compounds used in various consumer products like cleaning products, water-resistant fabrics, nonstick cookware, personal care products, and stain-resistant coatings.
PFAS were created in a lab; their chemical makeup makes them highly toxic and resistant to degradation. Over-exposure can result in severe illness and death. These chemicals can seep into the ground, water, and other elements when in production or use. Scientists and health experts have raised concerns since the 1970s about PFAS.
Is Firefighting Foam Hazardous?
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified PFOA, a type of PFAS, as a 2B carcinogen. Claims were filed against 3M, DuPont, and other PFAS manufacturers in 2023 after evidence showed they had decades of knowledge that PFAS compounds are volatile, toxic substances.
Exposure Through Work
Those who work in firefighting, chemical manufacturing, aviation, highway emergency services, oil refineries, and chemical plants may have increased exposure. Even firefighters' turnout gear used for protection is filled with cancer-causing PFAS that sticks to clothes and skin.
Exposure Through Water
Almost half (45%) of America's tap water could contain forever chemicals. Water for as many as 26 million people had measurable levels of PFAS. The Department of Defense has used AFFF since the 1970s, leading to extensive water contamination near military bases.
Why “Forever Chemicals”?
PFAS stay on the skin for roughly three weeks after a single exposure, even with consistent showering. The substance stays in a person’s body for years — government health data indicates it takes four years to decrease by half. PFAS are resilient because they are fused with carbon and fluorine atoms, making them practically indestructible. Certain states started banning PFAS compounds from firefighting foams in 2021, with expectations that AFFF foams will be banned entirely by 2028.
Does Firefighting Foam Cause Cancer?
PFAS chemicals do not break down quickly; the body may not present symptoms of an illness until years after exposure. The level and duration of exposure can affect the severity of symptoms — from stomach pain, skin irritation, and thyroid disease to far more serious illnesses. Current research suggests long-term exposure to AFFF could contribute to:
- Kidney Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Testicular Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
- Hodgkin's Lymphoma
- Bladder Cancer
- Thyroid Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Male Breast Cancer
Other life-impacting conditions
AFFF Lawsuit Update
Firefighting foam lawsuits are ongoing. Six hundred cases were consolidated in the U.S. District Court for South Carolina for a trial under Judge Richard Gergel. Some cases involving big manufacturers resulted in more than billion-dollar settlements, and the number will likely grow as more people speak out.
On October 12, 2023, the court denied 3M’s motion for summary judgment to limit liability. The first bellwether trial in the AFFF MDL began in June 2023 — the City of Stuart v. 3M Co. et al. — marking the first time a jury will issue a ruling on the evidence against DuPont and 3M. Separately, DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva agreed to pay $1.185 billion to 300 water providers over PFAS water contamination.
Manufacturers Facing Litigation
AFFF and PFAS manufacturers did not adequately warn people of the dangers, nor did they stop production. Primary suppliers facing litigation include:
AFFF Lawsuit Settlement Amounts
Firefighter foam cash settlements will depend on the degree of injuries, the level and frequency of exposure, cost of medical expenses, and lost wages (past and future). It is important to seek legal representation with mass tort expertise and a history of successful case results. Constant Legal Group’s lawyers have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for injured parties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Filing a Firefighter Foam Lawsuit
How do I know if I am eligible and what steps do I need to take?
It’s simple, just fill out the intake form on this page for a free and no-obligation review of your case. After our team reviews your case, we will help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the entire legal process, and maximize the compensation you deserve.
What type and amount of compensation is available to me if my AFFF case qualifies?
If your case qualifies, you may be able to receive compensation for your pain and suffering, medical expenses, and even lost wages. The average recovery for a qualifying AFFF claim is difficult to estimate since the first Bellwether has not been held. Once several bellwether trials are heard, we will know better what our clients will stand to receive.
How much time do I have to file a claim for my firefighter foam case?
Is my case eligible if I wasn’t a firefighter but was exposed to AFFF firefighting foam?
Yes, non-firefighters may still have an eligible claim if they were exposed to firefighting foam on at least ten different occasions, those occasions took place after 1960, and were diagnosed with one of the aforementioned cancers at least 6 months after the first exposure.
Free Case Review
Do you have an AFFF lawsuit?
Civilian and military firefighters and other individuals exposed to AFFF for extended periods who have developed health conditions linked to PFAS exposure might qualify to file a fire foam lawsuit against 3M, Tyco, Chemguard, and other manufacturers.
Fill out our intake form for a 100% free and no-obligation review of your case. Constant Legal Group is here to help — we’d be honored to speak with you.
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