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Firefighter PFAS Cancer Lawsuits

Courage. Service. Justice.

Firefighters run toward danger so the rest of us don’t have to. For decades, many of them did it wearing gear and spraying foam loaded with toxic “forever chemicals” that manufacturers allegedly knew could cause cancer.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) were built into AFFF firefighting foam and into the layers of turnout gear meant to keep firefighters safe. These chemicals don’t break down. They build up in the body over years of training, calls, and station life. Research and government agencies have linked PFAS exposure to serious cancers.

Thousands of firefighters across the country have filed claims alleging that PFAS exposure from foam and contaminated gear caused their illness. At Hilliard Law, we believe the companies that profited from these chemicals should answer for the harm they caused to the people who protect our communities.

 

If you or a loved one served as a firefighter and has been diagnosed with kidney cancer or testicular cancer, we can provide a free, confidential case review. Call 361-882-1612 or contact us online.

What Is a Firefighter PFAS Lawsuit?

A firefighter PFAS lawsuit is a civil claim brought by a firefighter, or the family of a firefighter, who developed a serious illness after exposure to PFAS chemicals on the job.

These claims are brought against the companies that made and sold the chemicals, foam, and gear, not against your fire department or city. They focus on whether manufacturers knew about the health risks of PFAS and failed to warn the firefighters who relied on their products.

Most federal firefighter PFAS injury claims are consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL), a process that groups similar cases before one judge to move them forward more efficiently. 

Why Firefighters Can Trust Hilliard Law

When you take on some of the largest companies in the world, experience and trial-tested grit matter. Hilliard Law is a nationwide force in mass torts, known for landmark results against powerful corporations, including our record-setting $575 million GM ignition switch settlement and a $310 million wrongful death verdict in the ICON Park attraction tragedy.

We know what firefighters give to their communities because we live and serve in ours. Our firm is built on standing up for people who put others first. We bring national reach, decades of trial experience, and a genuine respect for the fire service to every case we take.

See More of Our Results

How Firefighters Are Exposed to PFAS

Every firefighter’s career is different. Many share the same exposure pathways, and many were exposed through more than one source over many years.

PFAS-Treated Turnout Gear

Turnout gear is made in layers. PFAS have been used in the outer shell for water and stain resistance and in the moisture barrier. Firefighters may absorb these chemicals through their skin or inhale particles as the gear wears down, heats up, and sheds over time. Turnout gear exposure is a developing area of litigation and may provide an additional basis for your claim.

AFFF Firefighting Foam

Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) has been used for decades to suppress fuel and chemical fires. Firefighters may have been exposed through:

  • Live-fire training exercises
  • Suppressing fuel, aircraft, and vehicle fires
  • Equipment testing and foam system discharges
  • Cleaning and maintaining foam equipment and apparatus

Contaminated Fire Stations and Equipment

PFAS can migrate from gear and foam into the places firefighters live and work. This includes turnout rooms, living quarters, apparatus cabs, and tools. For firefighters who spend 24-hour shifts at the station, that exposure doesn’t end when the call does.

Which Injuries Qualify for a Firefighter PFAS Claim?

We are currently accepting cases involving:

  • Kidney cancer
  • Testicular cancer

We are also reviewing cases involving the following conditions, which are under scientific review in the litigation:

  • Thyroid cancer
  • Liver cancer

The science and the court’s rulings continue to develop. If you have been diagnosed with one of these conditions, or with a different cancer after a career in firefighting, contact us. We will tell you honestly where your case stands.

Who May Be Eligible?

You may be eligible to pursue a claim if meet all of the following:

  • You served as a career, volunteer, military, airport, or industrial firefighter;
  • You were exposed to PFAS-treated turnout gear, AFFF foam, or both; and
  • You were diagnosed with a qualifying cancer

Family members of firefighters who passed away from a PFAS-related cancer may be able to bring a wrongful death claim. 

Compensation in a Firefighter PFAS Case

Every case is different, and no attorney can promise an outcome. Depending on the facts, firefighters and their families may seek compensation for:

  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Lost wages and lost earning capacity, including forced early retirement
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of quality of life
  • Funeral and burial costs and loss of companionship in wrongful death cases

Where the Litigation Stands Today

Last updated: September 2026

  • Federal AFFF injury cases, including many involving firefighters, are consolidated in In re: Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2873, in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. More than 15,000 cases are pending.
  • Kidney cancer and testicular cancer claims have anchored the litigation. Thyroid and liver cancer claims are under scientific review by the court.
  • No global settlement for personal injury claims has been reached. Trial dates for the first test cases have not yet been reset.
  • In August 2026, a separate federal MDL was created in Minnesota for lawsuits involving PFAS in turnout gear, reflecting growing legal scrutiny of the gear firefighters wear every shift.

Deadlines to file can apply even while the litigation is ongoing. Waiting may put your right to compensation at risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I be suing my fire department or my city?

No. These claims are brought against the companies that manufactured and sold PFAS chemicals, foam, and gear. They are not brought against the departments that bought the equipment.

Can I file if I’m retired?

Yes. Many PFAS-related cancers appear years after exposure. Retired firefighters may still be eligible.

I was a volunteer firefighter. Does that count?

Volunteer firefighters were exposed to the same foam and gear. They may also qualify.

My loved one passed away from cancer after serving. Can our family file?

Surviving family members may be able to file a wrongful death claim. Contact us to discuss your family’s situation.

How long do I have to file?

Deadlines vary by state and depend on when you were diagnosed or learned of the connection. Talk to an attorney as soon as possible. 

What does it cost to talk to Hilliard Law?

Nothing. Your consultation is free and confidential, and we work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

What should I have ready?

It helps to have your diagnosis records, a general work history (departments, years of service), and any memory of foam training or gear use. Don’t worry if you don’t have everything. We can help gather records.

Information Today. A Safer Tomorrow.

You spent your career protecting others. Now let us fight for you. If you or a loved one served as a firefighter and has been diagnosed with kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, or liver cancer, call Hilliard Law at 361-882-1612 or contact us online for a free, confidential case review.

Fighting for those who protect us.

Sources

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS real questions. Real answers.

  • Can I still file a lawsuit if I was partially at fault for the accident?

    It depends on the jurisdiction and the concept of comparative negligence. In some places, you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault, but the amount may be reduced.

  • How long does a personal injury lawsuit take?

    The duration varies depending on factors such as the complexity of the case, negotiations, and court schedules. Some cases may be resolved in a few months, while others can take several years.

  • Will my case go to trial?

    Many personal injury cases are settled out of court through negotiations. However, if a fair settlement cannot be reached, your case may proceed to trial.

Real Results Real Justice

  • Record-Setting
    $575
    Million Settlement*
    Wrongful Death

    Hilliard Law attorneys represented numerous injury victims and the families of those killed in accidents caused by GM’s defective ignition switch and their concealment of safety defects.

  • $310
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    Wrongful Death

    Hilliard Law attorneys secured a $310 million verdict against “Funtime” Handelsgesellschaft M.G.H., the manufacturer of the defective Orlando FreeFall attraction at ICON Park, for the family of Tyre Sampson.

  • $50
    Million Settlement*
    Class Action

    Mr. Hilliard was the lead class counsel in Haese v. H&R Block, a class action lawsuit involving every Texan who received a rapid refund from H&R Block (approx. 300,000 plaintiffs). He assisted other class counsel in forcing H&R Block to disclose it received kickbacks for arranging loans between its tax preparation clients and predatory lenders.

  • $50
    Million Settlement
    Wrongful Death

    In September 2021, Hilliard Law attorneys secured a $50 Million settlement for the family of a man who died in a commercial trucking accident.

  • $33
    Million Verdict
    Traumatic Brain Injury

    The Hilliard Law trial team won a $33M product liability case against a golf-car company, involving a golf cart that tipped over on a child causing a severe traumatic brain injury.

  • $33
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    Work Injury

    With the representation of Hilliard Law, two delivery drivers who were shot while completing a delivery were awarded $33 million through an arbitration panel.

Case results depend upon a variety of factors unique to each case. Not all results are provided, and not every case handled by the firm is featured. Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome.

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It’s our mission to hold the powerful accountable for their wrongdoing. Reach out to our team immediately regarding your case to schedule a free attorney consultation today.

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