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Firefighter fatalities and injuries

Firefighter Injuries in the United States
Michael J. Karter, Jr. & Joseph L. Molis, October 2006
Cost: $10.00 (free to the fire service). 30 pages. Order # FFI05.
The report includes statistics on line-of-duty firefighter injuries in 2005 from NFPA’s survey of fire departments – including non-incident-related injuries, trends, and brief narratives on selected incidents.

Abstract: NFPA estimates that 80,100 firefighter injuries occurred in the line of duty in 2005, an increase of 5.6% from the year before.   Almost half (48.6%) of the all firefighter injuries occurred during fireground operations. An estimated 13,325 occurring during other on duty activities, while 12,250 occurred at non-fire emergency incidents. The leading type of injury received during fireground operations was strain, sprain or muscular pain (44.4%), followed by wound, cut, bleeding, bruise (18.1%). Regionally, the Northeast had the highest fireground injury rate, more than twice the rate for the rest of the country.
NFPA members: Download this report for free. (PDF, 79 KB)

U.S. Firefighter Deaths Related to Training, 1996-2005
Rita F. Fahy, June 2006
Cost: $10.00 (free to the fire service). 16 pages. Order #USS36
Training is a vital part of fire department operations, but it too often results in deaths and injuries. Between 1996 and 2005, 100 firefighters in the U.S. died while engaged in training-related activities (10 percent of all on-duty firefighter deaths). The deaths occurred during a broad range of activities, including apparatus and equipment drills; physical fitness; live fire training; underwater/dive training; and while attending classes or seminars. 
All visitors: Download this report for free. (PDF, 54 KB)

Firefighter Fatalities in the United States
Rita F. Fahy & Paul R. LeBlanc, June 2006
Cost: $10.00 (free to the fire service). 32 pages. Order # FFD05.
Abstract:  In 2005, a total of 87 on-duty firefighter deaths occurred in the U.S. The 87 on-duty deaths represent the lowest total since 1993, and the third lowest death toll since NFPA began tracking these deaths in 1977. Responding and returning from alarms accounted for the largest shares of firefighter deaths, with 26 deaths. Fire ground operations accounted for 25 deaths. This continues the trend that deaths on the fire ground account for less than one third of the deaths each year. Stress and overexertion, which usually results in heart attacks or other sudden cardiac events, continued to be the leading cause of fatal injury. Of the 47 stress-related deaths in 2005, 40 (46%) were classified as sudden cardiac deaths (usually heart attacks).

Overall statistics on line-of-duty firefighter fatalities in 2005, including non-incident-related deaths. Includes patterns, trends, career vs. volunteer comparisons, and brief narratives on selected incidents. Reports for earlier years back to 1980 are available for $10.00 each.
All visitors: Download this report for free. (PDF, 96 KB)

U.S. Fire Service Fatalities in Structures
Rita F. Fahy, July 2002
Cost: $10.00 (free to the fire service). 11 pages. Order # USS32.
Firefighters today are dying inside structures at a rate that parallels their on-duty death rate during the 1970s. These findings are based on an analysis of on-duty firefighter deaths from 1977-2000.
All visitors: Download this report for free. (PDF, 40.6 KB)

Patterns of Firefighter Fireground Injuries
Michael J. Karter, November 2003
Cost: $10.00 (free to the fire service). 28 pages. Order # USS02.
Includes 1994-1998 annual average estimates of injuries by such factors as type of injury, type of activity at time of injury, cause of injury by level of severity, occupancy where injury occurred, time of day and ages of injured firefighters. Unpublished report.
NFPA members: Download this report for free. (PDF, 55 KB)

Selected Special Analyses of U.S. Firefighter Fatalities
Cost: $10.00 (free to the fire service) 34 pages. Order # PKG28.
A collection of special analyses of patterns of U.S. firefighter fatalities. Topics covered include career and volunteer comparison; tanker accidents; training; operating inside structures; incendiary and suspicious fires; responding to or returning from alarms; PASS use; being struck by vehicles; and structural collapses.
NFPA members: Download this report for free. (PDF, 113 KB)