Orlando, Florida AFFF Lawsuit Help Center

Firefighters, Airport Workers, Service Members, and Others May Have Questions About AFFF Exposure

Aqueous film-forming foam, commonly known as AFFF, was developed for controlling fires involving aviation fuel, gasoline, petroleum products, and other flammable liquids. For many years, this specialized firefighting foam was used in airport operations, fire departments, emergency-response training, military facilities, industrial properties, and other locations where ordinary firefighting methods might not be sufficient.

Exposure could occur in more ways than directly spraying the foam. Firefighters, aircraft rescue personnel, mechanics, fuel-service workers, maintenance employees, contractors, emergency responders, and military personnel may have encountered AFFF while participating in drills, inspecting systems, repairing equipment, or cleaning after a foam discharge.

Some historical AFFF products contained PFAS chemicals, including PFOA and PFOS. Certain PFAS compounds can persist in the environment and may remain in the human body for significant periods.

If you encountered AFFF in Orlando, elsewhere in Florida, or during military service and later developed a serious illness, your individual exposure history may warrant a confidential legal evaluation.

REQUEST A FREE, CONFIDENTIAL CASE REVIEW

There is no charge to request an initial review, and contacting the AFFF Lawsuit Help Center does not require you to file a lawsuit.

How AFFF Exposure May Have Occurred

AFFF exposure did not necessarily involve a large-scale aircraft or fuel fire.

Fire-suppression systems require routine inspections, testing, maintenance, and repairs. Firefighters and other personnel may also encounter foam during training exercises and while cleaning equipment following a discharge.

Potential exposure situations may include:

• Taking part in firefighter or emergency-response training
• Responding to aircraft or fuel-related fires
• Testing foam-suppression systems
• Filling, draining, or servicing foam tanks
• Maintaining pumps, hoses, valves, and delivery equipment
• Repairing firefighting vehicles
• Cleaning apparatus following foam deployment
• Handling protective equipment after training or an emergency
• Working near aircraft fueling areas
• Inspecting specialized fire-suppression equipment
• Cleaning floors, vehicles, hangars, or other areas after a foam release

When exposure occurred years ago, it may be difficult to identify the precise product used. Employment records, training documents, military records, and information about former workplaces may help establish the circumstances.

What Is AFFF?

AFFF is a specialized foam designed primarily for fires involving flammable liquids. The foam can spread over burning fuel, helping suppress flammable vapors, cool the fuel, and reduce the risk of the fire reigniting.

Some older formulations used PFAS chemicals because of their resistance to heat, water, oil, and degradation.

PFOA and PFOS are among the PFAS chemicals that have been extensively studied. AFFF formulations changed over time, however, so products used at different locations and during different periods may not have contained the same chemicals.

For that reason, the details of a person's exposure can be important. A potential evaluation may consider where the exposure occurred, when it happened, the product involved, job responsibilities, and how frequently the person encountered it.

Orlando-Area Settings Where AFFF Exposure May Be Relevant

Orlando's aviation, tourism, emergency-response, transportation, and military-related activities create several potential settings where historical AFFF use may be relevant.

Airport and Aviation Workers

Aircraft rescue and firefighting operations have historically used specialized foam because aviation fuel fires can be difficult to control.

Potentially exposed workers may include:

• Aircraft rescue firefighters
• Airport emergency personnel
• Aircraft mechanics
• Fuel handlers
• Maintenance crews
• Hangar employees
• Fire-system technicians
• Contractors
• Aviation training personnel

Contact may have occurred during drills, emergency responses, inspections, equipment testing, repairs, or cleanup.

Orlando Firefighters and Emergency Responders

Firefighters may encounter AFFF during specialized training and emergency responses involving flammable liquids.

Potential exposure can also occur during routine maintenance. Foam residue may remain on firefighting vehicles, hoses, protective clothing, floors, and other equipment after deployment.

For former firefighters, previous departments, assignments, training programs, and years of service may help establish an older exposure history.

Military Personnel and Veterans

A person living in Orlando may have encountered AFFF somewhere outside Florida.

Military firefighters, aviation personnel, aircraft mechanics, fuel handlers, maintenance crews, and crash-response teams may have worked with or around AFFF at military bases and training facilities.

A complete military service history may therefore be important when identifying potential exposure locations.

Industrial, Transportation, and Maintenance Workers

Specialized foam systems may be used at properties where fuel, chemicals, or other combustible materials are stored or handled.

Workers and contractors may encounter AFFF during system testing, inspections, equipment maintenance, repairs, emergency response, or cleanup.

Mechanics, electricians, equipment technicians, maintenance workers, and contractors may have relevant exposure histories even if they were never employed as firefighters.

Who May Want to Investigate an AFFF Exposure?

A potential legal review may be appropriate for someone who previously:

• Used, mixed, sprayed, or handled AFFF
• Worked as a firefighter
• Participated in specialized firefighting training
• Responded to aircraft or fuel fires
• Worked around aircraft-rescue equipment
• Maintained foam tanks or suppression systems
• Repaired pumps, hoses, valves, or related equipment
• Cleaned vehicles or protective gear following foam use
• Worked around aircraft fuel operations
• Worked at an industrial facility using specialized foam systems
• Experienced repeated foam leaks, spills, or releases
• Lived or worked near a location associated with historical PFAS use
• Used water potentially affected by an AFFF release
• Developed a serious medical condition after potential exposure

An occupation or diagnosis alone does not establish eligibility. The nature, location, duration, and frequency of exposure may need to be reviewed together with medical records, employment history, military service, and applicable law.

Orlando Firefighters and First Responders

Firefighters may have encountered AFFF through emergency response, training exercises, equipment testing, and cleanup.

Repeated contact can sometimes come from routine activities rather than a single event. Cleaning apparatus, maintaining foam equipment, handling hoses, and working with protective gear after a discharge may all be relevant.

Former firefighters may want to preserve information about previous departments, training locations, and assignments, especially when the exposure occurred many years ago.

Aviation, Fuel, and Maintenance Personnel

AFFF exposure does not require someone to have worked directly as a firefighter.

Aircraft mechanics, fuel-service employees, airport contractors, maintenance crews, hangar workers, and emergency-response personnel may have worked around foam systems or entered areas where AFFF had been released.

Training exercises, inspections, system repairs, and post-discharge cleanup can all contribute to an individual's potential exposure history.

Industrial Employees and Contractors

AFFF exposure can also involve people working in support and maintenance positions.

Mechanics, electricians, equipment technicians, cleaning crews, maintenance employees, and contractors may have worked in areas where specialized fire-suppression equipment was installed.

The specific job duties, length of employment, and frequency of contact may be relevant when evaluating a potential claim.

Could PFAS Contamination Affect Drinking Water?

Some PFAS compounds can persist after historical AFFF releases. Under certain environmental conditions, they may migrate through soil and groundwater and potentially reach nearby water sources.

This can raise questions about possible drinking-water exposure near locations where firefighting foam was historically used.

However, finding PFAS in water does not automatically establish its source or prove that an individual's illness resulted from the contamination.

An environmental review may involve water-testing results, groundwater records, historical site information, environmental reports, and evidence concerning potential sources.

FIND OUT WHETHER YOUR EXPOSURE HISTORY MAY DESERVE A REVIEW

A confidential evaluation can help identify employment, military, environmental, and medical records that may be relevant.

Medical Conditions Being Studied in PFAS Research

Research into PFAS exposure and human health continues. Scientific studies and federal health agencies have reported associations between certain PFAS compounds and particular health outcomes.

An association does not automatically prove that PFAS caused an individual's illness.

A potential AFFF claim may therefore require reviewing the person's diagnosis alongside exposure history, medical records, scientific evidence, timing, and other possible risk factors.

Kidney Cancer

PFOA exposure has been studied in connection with kidney cancer. Someone diagnosed with kidney cancer who also has a history of potential AFFF exposure may want to have their circumstances reviewed.

The evaluation may consider the location and duration of exposure, frequency of contact, timing of the diagnosis, treatment history, and other potential risk factors.

A diagnosis alone does not establish that AFFF caused the cancer.

Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer has also been examined in connection with PFOA exposure and has been alleged in PFAS-related litigation.

Whether a particular diagnosis may support an AFFF-related claim depends on the available exposure evidence, medical history, scientific information, and applicable legal standards.

Other Health Conditions

Researchers have investigated additional cancers and health outcomes in connection with various PFAS compounds. The strength of available evidence can vary depending on the particular chemical and medical condition.

For that reason, a serious diagnosis should be evaluated together with the person's actual exposure circumstances rather than assuming that every illness automatically qualifies for an AFFF lawsuit.

What Compensation Could Potentially Be Pursued?

When supported by the evidence and applicable law, an AFFF personal-injury claim may potentially seek damages for:

• Medical bills and healthcare expenses
• Hospitalization and surgery
• Prescription medication
• Rehabilitation and continuing care
• Future medical treatment
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Diminished quality of life
• Loss of companionship or support
• Funeral and burial expenses in qualifying wrongful-death cases
• Other damages allowed under applicable law

The potential value of a claim varies according to the circumstances. The severity of the illness, medical expenses, lost income, evidence of exposure, causation, and applicable law may all influence potential damages.

No particular settlement, verdict, or compensation amount can be guaranteed.

Preserve Your AFFF Exposure Information

If you believe you encountered AFFF in Orlando, elsewhere in Florida, or during employment or military service in another location, older records may still be useful.

Employment documents, military records, training histories, medical files, former workplace information, environmental reports, and water-testing results may help establish when and where potential exposure occurred.

REQUEST A FREE, CONFIDENTIAL CASE REVIEW

Requesting an evaluation does not obligate you to pursue litigation. Your potential legal options depend on your individual exposure history, medical circumstances, available evidence, and the law applicable to your claim.