Cross & York Editorial
Military Burn Pit Locations: Full List of Sites by Country and Base
By Rick Gregory, Legal Specialist
TL;DR
- The U.S. military operated open-air burn pits at hundreds of bases across Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, and other Southwest Asia locations.
- Major military burn pit locations include Bagram Airfield and Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan, Balad/LSA Anaconda and Camp Victory in Iraq, and Camp Doha in Kuwait.
- The PACT Act covers veterans who served in any of these locations on or after August 2, 1990, and creates a presumption of exposure without requiring proof of a specific incident.
- Veterans can register their exposure history with the VA's Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry at VA.gov.
- If you served near a burn pit and now have a chronic illness, you may be eligible for VA disability benefits. Call (202) 934-2954 or visit our contact page for a free case evaluation.
Knowing the specific military burn pit locations where you were stationed matters when you file a VA disability claim. It establishes where you were, confirms your deployment falls within a covered period, and connects your service to the geographic presumption created by the PACT Act. This page lists the documented burn pit locations by country and base, explains how to check whether your specific installation had a burn pit, and walks through how to file a claim if your service falls within a covered location.
What are military burn pit locations?
Military burn pits were large open-air waste disposal sites operated on U.S. and coalition military installations across Southwest Asia and Africa. The military used them to dispose of nearly everything produced on a deployed base: food and human waste, petroleum products, chemicals, paint, rubber, medical waste, unexploded ordnance, and plastics. Some pits burned around the clock.
The smoke contained benzene, dioxins, furans, heavy metals, and fine particulate matter. Veterans and service members who lived or worked near these pits breathed that smoke for months or years at a time. Research has linked that kind of long-term exposure to serious respiratory conditions and cancers.
Burn pits were used at installations across the post-9/11 theater, as well as during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990-1991. The PACT Act (Public Law 117-168), signed August 10, 2022, created presumptive service connection for veterans who served in or near these locations and later developed covered conditions.
For a detailed breakdown of Afghanistan sites specifically, see our post on Afghanistan burn pits.
Where were the burn pit locations in Afghanistan?
Afghanistan had some of the largest and most active burn pits in the post-9/11 era. Every major installation had at least one pit, and smaller forward operating bases and combat outposts typically burned waste on-site as well.
| Base / Installation | Province | Era |
|---|---|---|
| Bagram Airfield (BAF) | Parwan | 2001-2021 |
| Kandahar Airfield (KAF) | Kandahar | 2001-2021 |
| FOB Salerno | Khost | 2002-2014 |
| Camp Leatherneck / Camp Bastion | Helmand | 2008-2014 |
| FOB Sharana | Paktika | 2006-2012 |
| FOB Shindand | Herat | 2005-2014 |
| FOB Orgun-E | Paktika | 2002-2013 |
| Camp Phoenix | Kabul | 2002-2014 |
| FOB Fenty / Jalalabad Airfield | Nangarhar | 2002-2014 |
| FOB Ghazni | Ghazni | 2004-2013 |
| FOB Tarin Kowt | Uruzgan | 2005-2013 |
| Camp Eggers | Kabul | 2002-2014 |
| FOB Lagman | Zabul | 2004-2012 |
| FOB Mehtar Lam | Laghman | 2004-2012 |
This list covers the most well-documented installations. Many smaller patrol bases and combat outposts across all 34 provinces also used burn pits or open-air waste burning routinely. Under the PACT Act, proof of service in Afghanistan after September 11, 2001, establishes the presumption of exposure.
Burn pit locations in Iraq
Iraq had a large number of significant burn pits throughout Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn (2003-2011) and during and after the Gulf War (1990-1991).
| Base / Installation | Region | Era |
|---|---|---|
| Balad Air Base / LSA Anaconda | Salah ad Din | 2003-2011 |
| Camp Victory | Baghdad | 2003-2011 |
| Camp Taji | Baghdad (north) | 2003-2011 |
| Camp Fallujah | Al Anbar | 2004-2011 |
| Camp Ramadi | Al Anbar | 2004-2009 |
| FOB Speicher | Tikrit | 2003-2011 |
| Camp Liberty | Baghdad | 2003-2011 |
| Camp Bucca | Basra (south) | 2003-2009 |
| FOB Kalsu | Babil | 2003-2009 |
| Camp Adder / Tallil Air Base | Dhi Qar | 2003-2011 |
| FOB Marez / Mosul | Ninawa | 2003-2011 |
| Camp Q-West | Ninawa | 2003-2009 |
| Camp Al Taqaddum | Al Anbar | 2004-2011 |
| FOB Warhorse | Diyala | 2003-2010 |
Balad/LSA Anaconda is one of the most frequently cited burn pit locations in VA claims history. Veterans who served at any of these installations during the covered period are presumed to have been exposed under the PACT Act and under the TERA presumption for earlier Gulf War service.
Burn pit locations in other countries
Beyond Afghanistan and Iraq, the DoD operated burn pits and open-air waste disposal at installations throughout the broader Southwest Asia theater and in East Africa.
Kuwait
| Base / Installation | Era |
|---|---|
| Camp Doha | 1990-2003 |
| Camp Virginia | 2003-2011 |
| Camp Arifjan | 2002-present |
| Ali Al Salem Air Base | 1990-present |
| Camp Buehring | 2003-present |
Qatar
| Base / Installation | Era |
|---|---|
| Al Udeid Air Base | 2001-present |
| Camp As Sayliyah | 2001-2010 |
United Arab Emirates
| Base / Installation | Era |
|---|---|
| Al Dhafra Air Base | 2001-present |
| Camp Justice (Dubai) | 2001-2005 |
Bahrain
| Base / Installation | Era |
|---|---|
| Naval Support Activity Bahrain | 1990-present |
Saudi Arabia (Gulf War era)
| Base / Installation | Era |
|---|---|
| King Khalid Military City (KKMC) | 1990-1991 |
| Dhahran Air Base | 1990-1991 |
| King Fahd International Airport | 1990-1991 |
Djibouti
| Base / Installation | Era |
|---|---|
| Camp Lemonnier | 2002-present |
Other covered locations under the PACT Act and burn pit registry include: Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Egypt, Oman, and waters including the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Gulf of Oman.
How do you check if your base had a burn pit?
Several official and unofficial resources can help you confirm burn pit activity at a specific installation.
VA Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry
The VA's Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry is a federal database established in 2014. Veterans who deployed to covered locations are automatically enrolled based on DoD records. You can verify your enrollment and add personal exposure details by visiting the registry at VA.gov. Registering does not file a disability claim or create an entitlement to benefits, but it creates an official record of your exposure that may support a future claim.
Buddy statements
A written statement from a fellow service member who served at the same installation can document the presence and use of a burn pit at that location. Buddy statements, submitted on VA Form 21-10210, are recognized as supporting evidence in VA claims.
FOIA requests
You can submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the DoD or the relevant branch of service to request base environmental reports, burn pit operations records, and contractor documentation for specific installations. These records can be time-consuming to obtain but provide strong documentary evidence.
Unit records
Operational records, unit histories, and after-action reports sometimes document waste disposal operations, including burn pit use. These can be requested through the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) or through your branch's records center.
How do you file a VA claim based on burn pit location?
Step 1: Confirm your deployment to a covered location
Pull your DD-214 or other separation and deployment documents that list your assignment locations and dates. If your records do not clearly show the specific base, supporting documentation such as orders, leave and earnings statements, or unit deployment histories can fill that gap. The key requirement is showing that you were physically present in a covered location during a covered period.
Step 2: Get a current diagnosis
VA requires a current diagnosis of the condition you are claiming. If you have not yet seen a doctor for your symptoms, schedule that appointment before filing. Covered conditions include respiratory cancers, constrictive bronchiolitis, COPD, interstitial lung disease, sinusitis, sleep apnea, and dozens of others. A complete list of PACT Act presumptive conditions is available on our PACT Act page.
Step 3: File your claim and attend your C&P exam
File online at VA.gov using VA Form 21-526EZ for a new claim, or VA Form 20-0995 if you had a prior denial. When completing the form, identify each condition, note your deployment location and dates, and reference the PACT Act. After filing, VA will typically schedule a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam. Describe your condition honestly and thoroughly, focusing on your worst days and how the condition affects your work and daily life.
Free help filing is available from Veterans Service Organizations such as the DAV, VFW, and American Legion at no cost to you.
If your claim has been denied, your rating seems too low, or your case involves multiple conditions, a VA-accredited attorney can provide more structured representation. Cross & York charges no fee on initial claims and limits fees to 20% of past-due benefits on appeals.
Frequently asked questions
Does the PACT Act cover all military burn pit locations?
The PACT Act covers veterans who served in Southwest Asia (including Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia), Djibouti, and certain other locations on or after August 2, 1990. It also covers service in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Uzbekistan, Yemen, and listed bodies of water. If you served in any of these areas and have a covered condition, you are presumed to have been exposed to burn pits and airborne hazards without needing to prove a specific exposure incident.
What if I served at a small FOB not on any official list?
You do not need your specific base to appear on a published list. The PACT Act creates a geographic presumption tied to the country and time period, not to a named installation. If you were deployed to a covered country during a covered period and have a covered condition, the presumption applies. Buddy statements and unit records can help document the conditions at smaller bases, but they are not required to establish the geographic presumption.
What is the burn pit registry and do I need to register?
The VA's Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry is a federal research and documentation database. Veterans deployed to covered locations are automatically enrolled. You can verify your enrollment and add personal exposure information at VA.gov. Registering does not automatically file a disability claim, and skipping registration does not prevent you from filing. However, having a registry record can strengthen supporting documentation in a claim.
Can I file a burn pit claim if my earlier claim was denied?
Yes. If you were denied before the PACT Act passed on August 10, 2022, the change in law constitutes new and material evidence that can reopen a prior denial through a supplemental claim (VA Form 20-0995). Many veterans who were denied under the old rules have had their claims approved after refiling under the PACT Act framework. An accredited VA attorney can review your denial letter and advise you on the strongest path forward.
How long does a burn pit claim take?
Processing times vary. Standard VA claims currently average several months to over a year depending on complexity and backlog. Claims involving multiple conditions, prior denials, or appeals generally take longer. Filing a complete, well-documented claim from the start, including all deployment records and medical evidence, reduces the likelihood of delays and development letters.
If you served near burn pits at any of the military burn pit locations listed above and are now dealing with a chronic illness, Cross & York can review your case at no charge. We are a VA-accredited law firm based in Washington, DC. Our fee is capped at 20% of past-due benefits on appealed claims only. There is no fee for initial claim representation.
Call (202) 934-2954 or visit our contact page to get started. You can also check your eligibility at our eligibility check page.
Cross & York is a VA-accredited law firm authorized to represent veterans before the Department of Veterans Affairs under 38 CFR § 14.629. Contingent fees apply only to past-due benefits awarded on appeal and are capped at 20% in accordance with 38 CFR § 14.636. No fee is charged for representing veterans on initial claims. Address: 1050 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008.