Are Firefighters at Risk for Asbestos Exposure?

How Firefighters Encounter Asbestos

Firefighters are exposed to asbestos primarily during and after structural fires in older buildings. Millions of commercial and residential structures built before the 1980s contain asbestos in insulation, ceiling and floor tiles, roofing materials, pipe wrapping, fireproofing sprays, and joint compounds. When these buildings burn, the heat and physical destruction break asbestos materials apart and release microscopic fibers into the smoke and debris.

The greatest exposure often occurs during overhaul operations — the post-fire phase when firefighters search for hidden fire extension, pull down ceilings, open walls, and remove debris. During overhaul, firefighters frequently remove their respiratory protection because the active fire has been extinguished, unknowingly exposing themselves to high concentrations of airborne asbestos fibers in the disturbed rubble.

Historical Exposure from Protective Equipment

Before modern synthetic materials replaced asbestos in firefighting gear, turnout coats, gloves, helmets, and blankets were manufactured with asbestos textiles for heat protection. Fire stations themselves sometimes contained asbestos building materials. This means that firefighters — particularly those who served before the 1990s — may have been exposed to asbestos both on the fireground and in their own stations.

Research conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has documented elevated cancer rates among firefighters, including mesothelioma. The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies occupational exposure as a firefighter as carcinogenic to humans.

Risks for Modern Firefighters

Although asbestos is no longer used in new construction or firefighting equipment, the risk to firefighters has not been eliminated. Older buildings continue to contain legacy asbestos, and structural fires in these buildings continue to release fibers. Natural disasters, industrial accidents, and large-scale demolition events also create asbestos hazards for responding fire crews.

Fire departments have increasingly adopted decontamination protocols, including on-scene gear washing and mandatory use of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) during all phases of firefighting, including overhaul. However, adoption of these practices varies, and many career and volunteer firefighters may still face preventable exposures.

Legal Rights and Compensation

Firefighters diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases may have several legal options. Many states have enacted presumption laws that establish a legal presumption linking certain cancers to firefighting duties, simplifying the workers’ compensation process. Firefighters may also pursue claims against asbestos product manufacturers whose materials were present in the buildings where they were exposed.

Compensation may include medical expenses, disability benefits, lost wages, and damages for pain and suffering. An attorney experienced in asbestos litigation and firefighter rights can evaluate your specific situation at no cost.