Nationwide Study Reveals PFAS Contamination in More than 60% of Fire Training Ponds

Alarming PFAS levels found by widespread testing of fireman' training grounds cause questions over long-term exposure and environmental safety

Thursday, May 15, 2025 - More than 60% of fire training ponds have detectable levels of PFAS, the dangerous chemicals usually connected to higher cancer risk, according to a new national survey. Fire departments use these ponds for practice drills with firefighting foam, which frequently absorbs runoff including PFAS that might find their way into nearby soil and groundwater. The disclosure has raised fresh legal and health issues, particularly for firefighters constantly in these surroundings. Many are now seeking medical help and accountability by means of a PFAS cancer lawsuit and consulting a PFAS cancer attorney for direction. These compounds, which are known for their resilience to heat, water, and oil, are persistent in training areas even after drills finish as they do not break down readily. Recent U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) research shows that some training ponds have contamination levels hundreds or even thousands of times above recommended limits for health. Regular training at these facilities may have let firefighters unintentionally inhale or consume PFAS through surface contact, contaminated water, or aerosolized foam. Environmental authorities and fire service chiefs are being forced by this mounting body of data to review present training procedures and investigate long-term health effects for staff.

Decontaminating these training ponds comes with costly cleanup expenses that often call for excavation of soil, water treatment systems, and the elimination of subterranean leaching sources. Smaller fire departments--especially those in rural or poor areas--may lack the tools to handle the problem. The fact that many of these polluted sites are still in use today--even after better foam substitutes have been developed--adds to the difficulty. New drills keep aggravating the issue without appropriate drainage improvements and correction. Legal experts predict that, especially if departments neglected to inform firemen of known pollution, future PFAS cancer lawsuits may grow to include claims especially linked to training pond exposure. Federal assistance is now being demanded to enable towns safely close polluted training ponds and switch to non-toxic substitutes. According to current poll results, regular training procedures rather than only major fires or emergency response indicate presence of PFAS exposure. Fire departments could be under more pressure to modify their training locations and methods as public awareness rises to protect staff members and the nearby community.

The fire service must face a serious reckoning since more than half of the fire training ponds in the country are now verified to be PFAS-contaminated. The pillar of firefighters' readiness, training is starting to cause long-term health problems. Should quick fixes fail, more legal claims will probably surface and public confidence could erode. Local and federal authorities have to fund the shift to PFAS-free practices, enforce safer training rules, and commit to cleaning initiatives going forward. The next generation of firefighters needs a training ground ready to save lives--without endangering their own in the process.

More Recent Federal Government Water Contamination Lawsuit News:

• Accidents Involving Firefighting Foam During Drills Blamed For Contaminating Municipal Water Systems With PFAS | 5/20/2025
• Insufficient Federal PFAS Health Monitoring Leaves Firefighters Ignorant Of Long-Term Cancer Risk | 5/20/2025
• Older Fire Stations Designed Before 1990 Could Have Drains, Gear Lockers, and PFAS Floors | 5/20/2025
• Runoff From Firefighting Foam Creates Environmental Risk In Nearby Streams and Aquifers | 5/18/2025
• PFAS Foam Ban Directs Fire Departments Towards Incomplete and Expensive Transitions | 5/18/2025
• Class Action Lawsuit Started On Behalf of Children Diagnosed with PFAS-Related Illnesses for Firefighters | 5/18/2025
• Firehouse Kitchens and Dorms Might be Secondary PFAS Exposure Sites | 5/15/2025
• PFAS Settlements Might Not Cover Complete Treatment Cost for Firefighter-Linked Cancer Clusters | 5/15/2025
• Rural Firefighters Sue Regarding Cancer Linked to Unchecked PFAS Foam Use | 5/13/2025
• Fire Station Soils Reveal Long-Term AFFF Leaching Into Groundwater | 5/13/2025
• Airport Crash Rescue Units Are Among the Most Heavily Exposed to Harmful Firefighting Chemicals | 5/13/2025
• New Blood Testing for Firefighters Might Indicate PFAS Exposure Background | 4/21/2025
• PFAS Contamination Lawsuits Target Fire Foam Manufacturers Over False Safety Claims | 4/21/2025
• Research Connects Increased Bladder Cancer Rates to Long-Term AFFF Exposure in Firefighters | 4/21/2025
• Insurance Companies Review Fire Department Coverage Using Legacy PFAS Foam | 4/21/2025
• Community Wells Close to Fire Training Ground Show Years of Unchecked PFAS Contamination | 4/21/2025
• Fire Academy Recruits Might Come Across Risky PFAS Levels During Training | 4/21/2025
• Urban Firefighting Training Ground Named as PFAS Hotspot | 4/20/2025
• Practices for PFAS Foam Disposal Could Be Generating Secondary Water Contamination Risk | 4/20/2025
• Retired Firefighters Demand Federal Payment for Cancer Cases Linked to PFAS | 4/20/2025
• Volunteer Firefighters Often Lack Protective Gear Against PFAS Exposure | 4/20/2025
• AFFF Foam and the Unspoken Risk at Fire Department Washing Stations | 4/20/2025
• Legacy PFAS Foam Supplies Create Unfair Risk for Volunteer Fire Departments | 4/20/2025
• How Climate Change Is Complicating PFAS Contamination | 3/15/2025
• Youngsters Consuming Contaminated School Water | 3/15/2025
• PFAS Are Still Legal Despite Their Known Hazards | 3/15/2025
• The American Military's Part in Efforts at PFAS Remedial Action | 3/11/2025
• How successfully do home water filtration systems remove PFAS | 3/11/2025
• Seafood Safety And PFAS In The Fishing Industry | 3/11/2025
• Home Items Contributing to PFAS Water Contamination | 3/10/2025
• The Financial Cost Of PFAS Contamination Of Local Water Supplies | 3/10/2025
• How PFAS Affects Fertility and Reproductive Health | 3/10/2025
• Effects of PFAS Contamination on Indigenous People | 3/9/2025
• Exposure to PFAS Chemicals And The Relationship to Autoimmune Diseases | 3/9/2025
• Landfills' Part in PFAS Contamination of Groundwater | 3/9/2025
• Firefighters Have Developed Cancer From Using Firefighting Foam | 11/21/2022
• Firefighters Have Developed Cancer From Using Firefighting Foam | 11/21/2022
• Part Two of Equipment Degreasers Containing Trichloroethylene Is At The Center Of The US Military's Water Contamination Crisis | 11/20/2022
• Equipment Degreasers Containing Trichloroethylene Is At The Center Of The US Military's Water Contamination Crisis Part One | 11/20/2022
• Tap Water Kidney Cancer Could Be Likely Caused By PFAS Chemical Contaminated | 11/17/2022
• Cancer Clusters May Occur Where PFAS Forever Chemical Are Manufacturered Or Used | 11/17/2022
• Newborn Babies Are Packed With PFAS Forever Chemicals | 11/14/2022
• California Sues 3M And Others For Water Contamination From Firefighting Foam | 11/13/2022
• PFAS Chemicals Found In Tap Water Of Communities Surrounding 400 Military Bases And Airports | 11/12/2022
• Burn Pits And Waste Disposal At Military Bases Contributed To Tap Water Pollution And Cancer | 11/8/2022
• Firefighting Foam Settlements Will Set A Precedent For PFAS Water Contamination Lawsuits In The Future | 10/31/2022
• The Clean Water Act Failed To Protect People From PFAS Forever Chemicals In Americas Waterways | 10/25/2022
• People With Cancer May Hold 3M And Others Financially Accountable For Causing Their Disease And Death | 10/23/2022
• PFAS Water Contamination May Be Greatest On And Near US Military Installations That Use Firefighting Foam | 10/13/2022
• EWG Reports Multiple Studies Have Found PFAS Chemicals In Umbilical Cord Blood of Newborn Babies | 10/3/2022
• PFAS Water Contamination May Have Contaminated Every Military Base That Used Firefighting Foam | 10/2/2022
• PFAS Chemicals Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances In Childrens Clothing May Cause Cancer And Other Health Problems | 9/28/2022
• State Municipal Governments Must Tighten Water Safety Standards | 9/20/2022
• Water Contamination Is The Invisible Enemy At Military Bases | 9/20/2022
• PFAS Chemical Contamination Is Absolutely Everywhere Says A Prominent Environmental Chemist | 9/13/2022
• The US Air Force Identifies PFAS Chemicals From Firefighting Foam Contaminated Several Military Water Supplies | 9/12/2022
• The EPA Undertests and Underreports Levels of PFAS Forever Chemicals In Drinking Water | 8/1/2022
• Municipal Government Are On The Front Line In Fighting Local Tap Water Contamination | 7/27/2022
• PFAS Forever Chemical Are Not Diluted With Water And Leech Into The Nearest Water System Every Time It Rains | 7/17/2022
• Bottled Water Safety Is Getting The Attention of Lawmakers Looking to Reduce PFAS Forever Chemical In The Water Supply | 7/14/2022
• Passage of The Camp Lejeune Justice Act Could Take Months Longer Than Expected | 7/12/2022
• Most Marines And Civilians That Lived And Worked in The Area Are Unaware That Drinking Tap Water Caused Their Cancer | 7/9/2022
• Millions Who Lived On or Near Camp Lejeune And Other Military Bases Have Developed A Variety of Deadly Diseases | 7/6/2022
• A CDC Study Links Drinking Camp Lejeune Tap Water With Serious Birth Defects | 7/5/2022
• The EPA Has Lowered Its Tolerance For Acceptable Levels Of PFAS Forever Chemicals In Municipal Drinking Water To Nearly Zero | 6/27/2022
• Marine Combat Survivors Returned Home To Face A Silent But Deadly Enemy In Camp Lejeune Water Contamination | 6/23/2022
• The Camp Lejeune Justice Act Has Passed The Senate And Awaits The Signature of the President | 6/20/2022
• Massachusetts AG Sues 3M And Others For Destroying The Local Drinking Water Systems With PFAS Forever Chemicals | 6/16/2022
• 12 More Military Bases Show Elevated Levels Of PFAS Forever Chemicals | 6/15/2022
• Dry Cleaning Chemicals Are Likely Carcinogenic According To The WHO | 6/13/2022
• Water Contamination Legislation Should Be A Higher Priority Than Gun Control | 6/10/2022
• Cancer Clusters Expose Dry Cleaning Solution As A Potential Source Of Tap Water Contamination | 6/8/2022
• Farms Near The Nation's 400 Military Bases Are Raising Crops And Livestock That Are Contaminated With PFAS Forever Chemicals | 6/6/2022
• There Are Many Ways To Ingest Carcinogenic PFAS Forever Chemical Besides Drinking Tap Water | 6/2/2022
• Thousands of Children Died At Camp Lejeune From Leukemia Because Their Mother Drank Tap Water While Pregnant | 5/31/2022
• Camp Lejeune Marine Veterans, Civilian Employees, And Their Families Should Undergo Cancer Testing | 5/30/2022
• Efforts To Remediate Troubled Tap Water Near Air Force Bases Is Too Little Too Late | 5/29/2022
• The Honoring Our Pact Act Will Acknowledge That Latent Cancers Are Service Related | 5/26/2022
• Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune Caused Stillborn Baby Deaths And Other Child Deaths That Were Left Unrecorded | 5/25/2022
• Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Has Helped To Shed Light On A Global Health Catastrophy | 5/23/2022
• Military Veterans From Camp Lejeune May Now File Suit Against The Department of Defense For Causing Their Family Illnesses | 5/20/2022
• Florida Senator Rubio Alleges The Government Covered Up Their Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Crimes And Must Be Held Accountable In A Court of Law | 5/18/2022
• The US Congress Has Known Since 2010 That The Drinking Water At Camp Lejeune Was Killing Marines And Their Families | 5/17/2022
• Marines From Camp Lejeune That Have Lost Children To Cancer From Toxic Forever Chemical Exposure Are Due Their Day In Court | 5/16/2022
• A Camp Lejeune Cemetary Is Called Baby Heaven Because So Many Children Have Died From Toxic Drinking Water | 5/11/2022
• One By One Each State, Municipality, And Other Government Sub-divisions Are Suing The Manufacturers of PFAS Forever Chemicals | 5/10/2022
• Firefighters With Prostate Cancer Sue 3M And Others For Failing To Warn Them | 5/7/2022
• Children Of Military Service Members May Have Been Harmed The Most By PFAS Forever Chemicals | 5/5/2022
• The City Of Portsmouth Files Suit Against 3M and Others For Contaminating The Ohio River | 5/3/2022
• More Legislation Is On The Way That Will Compensate Military Veterans And Firefighters Who Have Developed Job-Related Illnesses | 4/27/2022
• Another Lawsuit Filed Against a Municipal Drinking Water Treatment Plant For Being Polluted With Forever Chemicals | 4/25/2022
• Lawmakers Address Toxic PFAS Forever Chemicals By Writing Legislation That Is Pending Becoming Law | 4/22/2022
• One Study Finds Carcinogenic PFAS Chemicals Bioaccumulate In Beef And Dairy Products | 4/21/2022
• A Local Dry Cleaning Company May Have Polluted the Camp Lejeune Water Treatment Facilities With PFAS Forever Chemicals | 4/19/2022
• Burn Pits Are Identified As A Source Of Military Installation Drinking Water Contamination | 4/18/2022
• Young Families Exposed To Toxic Chemicals Are Fighting Back | 4/15/2022
• Cancer Clusters Indicate PFAS Forever Chemical Contamination | 4/14/2022
• 98% Of Americans Test Positive For Toxic Levels of Forever Chemicals | 4/13/2022
• Lawsuits Seek Lump Sum Monetary Compensation For Cancer And Birth Defects From Drinking Contaminated Drinking Water | 4/11/2022
• Studies Conclude That Unborn Children Were Injured When Pregnant Mothers Drank Contaminated Tap Water | 4/8/2022
• 3M To Be Held Accountable For Selling Products That Contain Forever Chemicals Claiming They Were Safe | 4/4/2022
• Mothers That Drink Tap Water During Pregnancy Risk Having Children Born With Birth Defects | 3/30/2022
• Elsworth Air Force Base Is Attempting To Provide Free Clean Water To Local Residents Poisoned By PFAS Chemicals | 3/28/2022
• Military Veterans Are Protesting To Draw Attention To Toxic Burn Pits And The Carcinogenic Firefighting Foam Used To Extinguish The Fires | 3/25/2022
• The Closing Of Military Bases Exposed Toxic Burn Pits And Forever Chemicals in Firefighting Foam | 3/23/2022
• Politicians Agree Camp Lejeune Service Members And Their Families Deserve The Right To Sue The Federal Government | 3/22/2022
• Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Sickened Thousands Of Young Military Families With Terminal Illnesses | 3/21/2022
• Lawmakers Have More Evidence To Help Water Contamination Cancer Families Get Their Day In Court | 3/17/2022
• The Staggering Scope Of Firefighting Foam Water Contamination | 3/14/2022
• The EPA Allocates A Record Amount of Money To Fix Lead Drinking Water Pipes Servicing Low-Income Communities | 3/10/2022
• The EPA Allocates A Record Amount of Money To Fix Lead Drinking Water Pipes Servicing Low-Income Communities | 3/10/2022
• Children Living Near Military Bases and Firefighting Stations Could Be At Risk Of Developing Cancer From The Drinking Water | 3/7/2022
• Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Survivors Could Get Their Day In Court | 3/6/2022
• Camp Lejeune Justice Act Is One Step Closer To Becoming A Reality | 3/5/2022
• County Governments Are Suing 3M For Failing To Warn Them of Forever Chemicals In Firefighting Foam | 3/4/2022
• Veterans Who Love Their Country Gathered In Kentucky To Insist The Government Do The Right Thing | 3/3/2022
• Ground-Water Contamination At Military Installation Caused Cancer In Thousands of Veterans | 3/2/2022
• Private Homeowners and Renters Are Largely Unaware Of the Toxic Chemical That Contaminate Their Everyday Drinking Wellwater | 3/1/2022
• Individuals and Families Should Test The Drinking Water For Carcinogenic Chemical Contamination | 2/28/2022

Let Our Water Contamination Attorneys Help You

Our attorneys specialize in holding large corporations accountable when they've placed profits ahead of safety. Through settlements and winning verdicts, our attorneys have obtained millions for our clients. Let us help you today.

Lawsuits for PFAS Contaminated Drinking Water

Filing a lawsuit will allow you to hold the federal government accountable for damage it has caused you or a loved one, while also providing real compensation for your medical expenses, suffering and loss. Contact us today for a free consultation.