Annual Report on Firefighter Fatalities in the United States

For 35 years, the National Fire Data Center has kept track of firefighter fatalities and conducted an analysis of the fatalities that occur each year. Through the collection of information on the causes of firefighter deaths, the USFA is able to focus on specific problems and direct efforts towards finding solutions to reduce the number of firefighter fatalities in the future. This information is also used to measure the effectiveness of current efforts directed toward firefighter health and safety.

The specific objective of the study Firefighter Fatalities in the United States is to identify all of the on-duty firefighter fatalities that occur in the United States and to analyze the circumstances surrounding each occurrence. The study is intended to help identify approaches that could reduce the number of deaths in future years.

Criteria Used to Make On-duty Firefighter Fatality Determinations

2011 Annual Report - Overview of Findings

83 firefighters died while on duty in 2011.

• The total break down included 51 volunteer, 27 career, and 5 wildland agency firefighters.
  
• There were 3 firefighter fatality incidents where 2 firefighters were killed in each, claiming a total of 6 firefighters.
  
• 10 firefighters died in duties associated with wildland fires.
  
• Activities related to emergency incidents resulted in the deaths of 45 firefighters.
  
• 28 firefighters died while engaging in activities at the scene of a fire.
  
• 11 firefighters died while responding to or returning from 11 emergency incidents.
  
• Heart attacks were the most frequent cause of death with 48 firefighter deaths.
  
• 8 firefighters died while they were engaged in training activities.
  
• 21 firefighters died after the conclusion of their on-duty activity.
  

The 2011 report on firefighter fatalities in the United States may be downloaded below.

1986 - 2011 Firefighter Fatality Reports

Firefighter Casualty Reports

• Topical Fire Report Series
• Technical Report Series
• Firefighter Fatality Retrospective Study 1990-2000 (PDF, 3.0 Mb)

Links of Interest

• Firefighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program