USFA Releases Fire-Related Firefighter Injuries Report

EMMITSBURG, MD - The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) issued a special report today examining the details of firefighter injuries sustained on the fireground or while responding to or returning from a fire incident. The report, Fire-Related Firefighter Injuries Reported to NFIRS (PDF, 945 Kb), was developed by USFA's National Fire Data Center and is further evidence of FEMA's effort to reduce the number of firefighter injuries through an increased awareness and understanding of their causes and how they might be prevented.

The report is part of the Topical Fire Report Series and is based on 2006 to 2008 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). According to the report:

• An estimated 81,070 firefighter injuries occur annually in the United States.
• 49 percent of firefighter injuries occur on the fireground and 6 percent occur while responding to or returning from a fire incident.
• Overexertion/strain is the leading cause of fire-related firefighter injuries at 25 percent.
• 38 percent of all fire-related firefighter injuries result in lost work time.
• The majority of fire-related firefighter injuries (87 percent) occur in structure fires.
• On average, structure fires have more injuries per fire than nonstructure fires.
• Firefighter injury fires are more prevalent in July (10 percent) and peak between the hours of 2 and 5 p.m.

Topical reports are designed to explore facets of the U.S. fire problem as depicted through data collected in NFIRS. Each topical report briefly addresses the nature of the specific fire or fire-related topic, highlights important findings from the data, and may suggest other resources to consider for further information. Also included are recent examples of fire incidents that demonstrate some of the issues addressed in the report or that put the report topic in context.

For further information regarding other topical reports or any programs and training available from the U.S. Fire Administration, visit www.usfa.fema.gov.

The United States Fire Administration recommends everyone should have a comprehensive fire protection plan that includes smoke alarms, residential sprinklers, and practicing a home fire escape plan.

Would you like to receive press releases and other important notices as soon as they are available from USFA? With our email list and RSS feeds, you can.