Too many Kansas City firefighters left out after toxic chemical exposure | Opinion
Thousands of firefighters across the country, including many in Missouri, may never get justice for being exposed to toxic chemicals found in firefighting foam, simply because they didn’t know they could file a claim. For decades, these men and women relied on aqueous film-forming foam or AFFF designed to save lives, not realizing they were laced with PFAS, the so-called “forever chemicals” now linked to cancers, thyroid disease, and immune disorders. The chemicals don’t break down in the body or the environment, meaning that exposure years ago can still cause devastating illness today.
The AFFF lawsuit against the manufacturers of the toxic substances provided firefighters a unique chance for justice. However, when the filing window closed on Sept. 5, roughly 13,000 claims were submitted nationwide. That might sound like progress, but it represents less than 2% of the estimated 1 million firefighters believed to have been exposed. The rest — more than 90% — never had a chance.
This isn’t a story about who sued. It’s about who didn’t, and why so many firefighters were left behind while companies that profited from toxic products continue to avoid accountability.
Missouri is home to roughly 774 registered fire departments, representing approximately 15.9% of the national total, according to the U.S. Fire Administration’s 2024 registry. There is no recent data available on the number of firefighters in Missouri. However, according to the Kansas City Fire Department’s 2021 annual report, the department employed 424 firefighters. The St. Louis Fire Department also has roughly 900 firefighters on staff.
If these lawsuits had been filed proportionally across states, hundreds of Missouri firefighters would have come forward before the Sept. 5 deadline. Yet, very few did, and it’s not because firefighters didn’t want justice. It’s because they didn’t know that justice was on the table to begin with.
There was no statewide notice, no coordinated outreach and no unified communication. Unions, such as the International Association of Fire Fighters, issued alerts, but the communication didn’t always reach smaller, rural stations.
PFAS exposure is not hypothetical. Studies have shown that firefighters have significantly higher levels of PFAS in their blood compared to the general population. In Missouri, that means thousands of firefighters who trained with or used AFFF, including their PFAS-laden protective turnout gear, may be living with long-term exposure that can turn into a lethal cancer any day.
For these individuals, the lawsuit was a rare opportunity for acknowledgement and accountability, rather than just a legal matter. Thus, missing that chance means that many firefighters struggling with illnesses such as kidney cancer, testicular cancer or thyroid disease may never receive the compensation or care they deserve.
Although the Sept. 5 window has closed, firefighters can still file claims under more stringent and restrictive conditions. They will be required to submit complete medical records and individual expert reports to establish both general and specific causation for their conditions within 120 days of filing. The additional requirements significantly increase the time, complexity, and costs needed to support a case.
However, change is possible should Congress pass the long-pending Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Act. Firstly, the law would enable the Department of Health and Human Services to establish dedicated compensation programs for PFAS-related illnesses among firefighters. The act will also establish a no-fault claims process with a lower burden of proof for the firefighters, and define clear eligibility criteria based on service duration and diagnosis.
Other benefits of the law include standardized compensation amounts with multipliers for years of service, and claim determinations within 120 days of submission. However, more important, it doesn’t restrict firefighters from pursuing separate civil lawsuits against manufacturers.
Kansas City and communities across Missouri have a long history of honoring their firefighters, but honoring them should begin with standing up for their rights and health. Firefighters dedicated their lives to protecting others, unknowingly exposing themselves to chemicals that may now be taking their lives. The least legislators can do is ensure these brave public servants are informed, protected and heard.
Jordan Cade is an attorney with the Environmental Litigation Group, P.C. in Birmingham, Alabama, who represents individuals exposed to PFAS and other toxic chemicals.