Across the United States, a growing crisis is unfolding for thousands of firefighters who, for decades, relied on firefighting foams laced with toxic chemicals—without ever knowing the risks. These foams, known as aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), contain PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which have earned the troubling nickname "forever chemicals." Why? Because they don’t break down in the body or the environment, and exposure can haunt people, sometimes decades later, with devastating illnesses like cancer, thyroid disease, and immune disorders.
According to reporting by Missouri Independent, the scale of exposure is staggering. An estimated one million firefighters nationwide have come into contact with PFAS-laden foams and protective gear. Yet, when the window to file lawsuits against the chemical manufacturers closed on September 5, 2025, only about 13,000 claims had been submitted—less than 2% of those affected. The vast majority, over 90%, never filed a claim. The reason? Many simply didn’t know they could.
Missouri, with its 774 registered fire departments—making up nearly 16% of the national total—offers a sobering snapshot. Kansas City alone employed 424 firefighters in 2021, while the St. Louis Fire Department has about 900 on staff. If claims had been filed proportionally, hundreds of Missouri firefighters might have sought justice. Instead, very few did, and not for lack of need or desire. The problem was silence: no statewide notice, no coordinated outreach, and no unified communication. While national unions such as the International Association of Fire Fighters tried to sound the alarm, their messages often failed to reach smaller, rural stations where resources and information are scarcer.
The health risks are not hypothetical. Studies have shown that firefighters carry significantly higher levels of PFAS in their blood compared to the general public. The consequences are deadly serious. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reported that, in a study of nearly 30,000 firefighters, there was a 9% higher chance of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from it, compared to the general population. Kidney and testicular cancers, in particular, have been repeatedly linked to PFAS exposure.
For many firefighters, the missed lawsuit deadline wasn’t just a lost legal opportunity—it was a lost chance for recognition and accountability. As the Missouri Independent notes, the lawsuit represented a rare moment for firefighters to see their suffering acknowledged and for companies to be held responsible for profiting from toxic products. Now, those who missed the window face a much steeper climb: they can still file claims, but only under far more stringent and costly conditions. The new process demands complete medical records and individual expert reports to establish both general and specific causation for their conditions—all within 120 days of filing. For many, that’s a barrier too high to clear, especially for those who are already sick or struggling to make ends meet.
But a glimmer of hope remains on the legislative horizon. The Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Act, still pending in Congress as of December 2025, aims to create a dedicated compensation program for firefighters suffering from PFAS-related illnesses. If passed, it would establish a no-fault claims process—lowering the burden of proof for affected firefighters—and set clear eligibility criteria based on years of service and diagnosis. The act would also standardize compensation amounts, with multipliers for longer service, and require claim determinations within 120 days. Importantly, it would not prevent firefighters from pursuing separate civil lawsuits against manufacturers.
While lawmakers in Washington debate the future of compensation, some states are taking matters into their own hands by searching for safer alternatives. In Wisconsin, the state Senate recently passed a bill to help fire departments transition away from PFAS-based foams altogether. As reported by Wisconsin Public Radio, the bill would provide grants covering up to 50% of the costs for departments to purchase soybean-based firefighting foams—a biodegradable, plant-derived alternative developed by companies like Cross Plains Solutions.
Senator Howard Marklein, who introduced the bill, told colleagues, “This is good for farmers, good for our fire departments and good for the environment.” Around 20 fire departments in Wisconsin are already using the soybean-based foam, which, according to Dave Garlie, chief technology officer at Cross Plains Solutions, has been successfully tested for extinguishing jet fuel and gasoline fires at Chippewa Valley Technical College. Garlie emphasized, “What we strived to do through chemistry was to really build out performance for the firefighters, but also in parallel make sure they’re not introducing another hazardous component” into the environment.
Supporters of the bill argue that shifting away from PFAS foams is crucial not only for firefighter health but also for environmental safety. In Wisconsin, PFAS contamination has already seeped into private and public wells in communities like Campbell and Eau Claire, traced back to firefighting foam used at municipal airports. Chris Turner, a fire instructor at Chippewa Valley Technical College, testified that without PFAS foams, departments have been relying more on water—making firefighting less effective and increasing both workloads and property damage. Turner argued, “When manufacturers instead take the approach of using bio-based materials like soy and other constituent elements, there is, in my opinion, a far lesser chance of that being harmful to the environment, to myself, to my firefighters, or to my family.”
The benefits of soybean-based foams extend beyond public health. As Doug Rebout, president of the Wisconsin Soybean Association, pointed out, the measure could also provide a much-needed boost for local farmers. With U.S. soybean growers losing billions in sales as Chinese buyers have turned elsewhere during ongoing trade disputes, every new domestic use for soybeans helps. “Every little bit we can do here domestically can help us so we’re not so reliant on foreign markets,” Rebout told lawmakers.
Still, the journey is far from over. SoyFoam and similar products are still in the process of being certified with federal agencies, and the Wisconsin bill has yet to be considered by the state Assembly. Meanwhile, fire departments that have abandoned PFAS-based foams are left in a bind, forced to choose between less effective methods and the health of their crews and communities.
For firefighters in Missouri, Wisconsin, and across the country, the battle for justice, safety, and recognition continues. While legislative and technological solutions are inching forward, the stories of those left behind—those who never got the chance to file a claim, or who are still waiting for safer equipment—remind us that honoring firefighters means more than applause. It means standing up for their health, their rights, and their future.
As the nation looks for answers, one thing is crystal clear: firefighters dedicated their lives to protecting others, often at great personal risk. Now, it’s up to lawmakers, communities, and industry leaders to ensure that sacrifice isn’t met with silence, but with action.