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Topical Fire Report Series June 2022 | Volume 22, Issue 1

Fire Department Overall Run Profile
as Reported to the National Fire Incident Reporting System (2020)

Fire departments provide invaluable services to communities nationwide. To understand their full role in a community, this topical report profiles fire department run activity as reflected in the 2020 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) Public Data Release file.

Download the 10-page report

At a Glance

In 2020, fire departments responded to

26,959,000

incident runs or calls

as reported to the NFIRS. This is a 6% decrease in the number of runs reported in 2019.

65% graph

Nearly two-thirds (64%) of the reported calls required emergency medical services (EMS) and rescue services from fire departments.

4% graph

Only 4% of all reported fire department runs were fire related.

calendar

In 2020, fire runs were more prevalent on Saturdays, whereas severe weather calls peaked on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

52% graph

More than half (55%) of the reported calls were to residential properties. Of these calls to residential properties, 70% required EMS or rescue services while only 3% were fire related.

Approximately 8% of reported runs involved mutual or automatic aid.

Fire department runs by major incident type category (2020)

In 2020, fire departments responded to 26,959,000 incident runs or calls as reported to the NFIRS.

Of the reported runs, 17,297,200 (64%) required EMS and rescue services.

Source: NFIRS 5.0
EMS/rescue64.2
Good intent call11.7
False alarm/false call8.0
Service call7.6
Fire3.9
Hazardous condition (no fire)3.4
Special incident type0.8
Severe weather/natural disaster0.2
Overpressure rupture/explosion (no fire)0.1
Total does not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Specific types of fire department calls within the EMS and rescue service incident type category (2020)

EMS-designated calls were, by far, the leading specific type of fire department run within the EMS and rescue service calls category (68%), followed by medical assists (14%).

Source: NFIRS 5.0
EMS call67.8
Medical assist13.9
Motor vehicle accident with injuries4.8
Motor vehicle accident with no injuries3.5
All other EMS and rescue calls9.9
Total does not add up to 100% due to rounding.