• Overall fire statistics
• Major causes
• Appliances & equipment
• Economic impacts
• Fire protection systems
• Fire service statistics
• Older versions of reports
• International comparisons
• Occupancies
• Regional/community patterns
• Vehicles
• Victim patterns
• Miscellaneous
• Non-fire incidents
• Errata

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Fire service statistics

NFPA members can download free PDF copies of One-Stop Data Shop reports. All reports and packages are also available for sale in bound, photocopy format. NFPA members receive a 10% discount off the cover price. To order any report(s), e-mail Nancy Schwartz or call +1 617 984-7450.

Fire Service Performance Measures
Jennifer D. Flynn, November 2009
46 pages. Order # USS85
This report identifies and presents potential performance measures as they relate to the core functions of the fire department. A comprehensive literature review was performed to gather and highlight key measures that have already been identified. In addition to presenting key measures by fire department function, this report discusses the cautions associated with each measure.

The report presents twenty performance measures by major response type-fire, medical aid, hazmat, and other calls. ach measure includes a discussion about what the measure tells you and cautions that should be considered when using the measure. Each measure also contains information about a corresponding NFPA standard or recommendation and suggestions for how to use NFIRS to evaluate performance, where applicable. 
All visitors: Download this report. (PDF, 315 KB)

U.S. Fire Department Profile
Michael J. Karter and Gary P. Stein, October 2009
Cost: $25.00 (free to the fire service). 35 pages. Order # USS07.
This report includes statistics through 2008 on the numbers and characteristics of U.S. of fire departments and firefighters. It also includes information on the number of fire stations, pumpers and ladders nationwide, rates of usage of such equipment by community size, and total national direct expenditures on local fire protection.

Abstract: NFPA estimates that there were approximately 1,148,850 firefighters in the U.S. in 2008.  Of the total number of firefighters 321,700 or 28% were career firefighters and 827,150 (72%) were volunteer firefighters. Most of the career firefighters (74%) are in communities that protect 25,000 or more people. Most of the volunteer firefighters (94%) are in departments that protect fewer than 2,500 people. There are an estimated 30,170 fire departments in the U.S. Of these, 2,315 departments are all career, 1,790 mostly career, 4,830 are mostly volunteer and 21,235 are all volunteer. In the U.S., 13,352 or 44% of departments provide EMS service, 4,418 departments or 15% provide EMS service and advance life support, while 12,400 departments or 41% provide no EMS support.
NFPA members: Download report #USS07. (PDF, 209 KB)
All visitors: Download a printable fact sheet on the U.S. fire department. (PDF, 65 KB)

Firefighter Injuries in the United States
Michael J. Karter, Jr. & Joseph L. Molis, October 2009
Cost: $10.00 (free to the fire service). 28 pages. Order # FFI08.
The report includes statistics on line-of-duty firefighter injuries in 2008 from NFPA’s survey of fire departments – including non-incident-related injuries, trends, and brief narratives on selected incidents.

Abstract: NFPA estimates that 79,700 firefighter injuries occurred in the line of duty in 2008. Nearly half (45.9%) of the all firefighter injuries occurred during fireground operations. An estimated 14,250 occurred during other on duty activities, while 15,745 occurred at nonfire emergency incidents. The leading type of injury received during fireground operations was strain, sprain or muscular pain (48.8%), followed by wound, cut, bleeding, bruise (15.6%).  Regionally, the Northeast had the highest fireground injury rate, more than twice the rate for the rest of the country.
All visitors: Download report #FFI08. (PDF, 128 KB)
All visitors: See older versions of this report.

False Alarm Activity in the U.S., 2008
Michael J. Karter, Jr., September 2009
7 pages. Order #USS18
An in-depth report on false alarm activity and includes a table on fire department calls by type of call.

Abstract: In 2008, U.S. fire departments responded to 2,241,500 false alarms. This was a slight increase of 1.5%. This means that one out of ten calls responded to by fire departments were false alarms.
All visitors: Download report #USS18. (PDF, 71 KB)

Fire Departments in Canada, 2006-2008
Michael J. Karter, Jr. and Gary P. Stein, January 2010
Cost: $25.00 (free to the fire service). 15 pages. Order #USS35.
The NFPA has been collecting data on fire departments in Canada  for several years. This report includes results on career and volunteer fire firefighters per 1,000 people protected, department type, stations and apparatus rates per 1,000 people, and whether EMS is provided. Most of the results are broken down by size of community protected.
NFPA members: Download report #USS35. (PDF, 115 KB)
All visitors: Download an errata for this report. (PDF, 45 KB)

Wildland Firefighter Fatalities, 1999-2008
Rita F. Fahy. July 2009. 11 pages.
All visitors: Download this report  (PDF, 96 KB)

Firefighter Fatalities in the United States 2008
Rita F. Fahy, Paul R. LeBlanc and Joseph L. Molis, July 2009. 33 pages.
Overall statistics on line-of-duty firefighter fatalities in 2008, including non-incident-related deaths. Includes patterns, trends, career vs. volunteer comparisons, and brief narratives on selected incidents.

Abstract: In 2008, a total of 103 on-duty firefighter deaths occurred in the U.S. This is the same number of deaths as occurred in the U.S. in 2007, and the fourth time in the last 10 years that the annual total has been 103. The largest share of deaths (39 deaths) occurred while firefighters were responding to or returning from emergency calls. This includes a single incident which resulted in nine deaths. Stress, exertion, and other medical-related issues, which usually result in heart attacks or other sudden cardiac events, continued to account for the largest number of fatalities. Of the 41 exertion- or stress-related fatalities in 2008, 36 were classified as sudden cardiac deaths. *Since the reports publication, another firefighter has died of injuries suffered in 2008 bringing the total to 104.
All visitors: Download this report. (PDF, 151 KB)
All visitors: See older versions of this report.

Patterns of Firefighter Fireground Injuries
Michael J. Karter, May 2009
Cost: $10.00 (free to the fire service). 33 pages. Order # USS02.
Includes 2003-2006 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.

Abstract: For the 2003-2006 period, there was an estimated annual average of 40,270 firefighter fireground injuries in the U.S.  Of these, an average of 29,710 were minor, and 10,560 were moderate or severe. The leading types of minor injuries were: strain or sprain accounting for an annual average of 7,035 injuries or (24%); pain only, accounting for 3,345 injuries (12%); thermal burns only, accounting for 3,415 injuries (11%); cut or laceration, accounting for 2,695 injuries (9%). The leading types of moderate and severe injuries were: strains or sprain accounting for an annual average of 3,635 injuries a year, or 34%; thermal burn, accounting for 940 injuries (9%); pain only, accounting for 920 injuries (9%). Activities related to extinguishing a fire accounted for most of the minor injuries (15,400 or 52%), and for most of the moderate and severe injuries (5,470 or 51%). The leading causes of minor injuries were exposure to something (6,670, or 23%), while for moderate and severe injuries the leading cause of injuries were fell, slipped, or tripped (3,095 or 29%).
NFPA members: Download report #USS02. (PDF, 82 KB)

U.S. Firefighter Fatalities in Road Vehicle Crashes, 1998-2007
Rita Fahy. July 2008. 7 pages.
All visitors: Download this report. (PDF, 29 KB)

What’s Changed Over the Past 30 Years?
Rita F. Fahy, Paul R. LeBlanc and Joseph L. Molis. June 2007. 17 pages.
A review of the almost 3,400 on-duty firefighter fatalities that have occurred in the U.S. between 1977 and 2006 shows some areas where significant improvements have occurred and highlights areas where much work remains to be done. 
All visitors: Download this report. (PDF, 78 KB)

U.S. Firefighter Deaths Related to Training, 1996-2005
Rita F. Fahy, June 2006. 16 pages.
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. (PDF, 54 KB)

U.S. Firefighter Fatalities Due to Sudden Cardiac Death, 1995-2004
Rita F. Fahy,  June 2005. 11 pages.
Sudden cardiac death claims more firefighter lives during on-duty activities than any other cause of death.  This study reviews trends in these deaths between 1995 and 2004.
All visitors: Download this report for free. (PDF, 65 KB)

U.S. Fire Service Fatalities in Structures
Rita F. Fahy, July 2002. 11 pages.
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. (PDF, 40.6 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 report #PKG28. (PDF, 113 KB)

Four Years Later – A Second Needs Assessment of the U.S. Fire Service
Department of Homeland Security, USFA, and NFPA, October 2006. 159 pages.
Updated assessment of needs of U.S. fire service in such areas as training, certification, personnel, apparatus, equipment, and fire prevention, with particular attention to homeland security type incidents.
All visitors: Download this report. (PDF, 4 MB)

Matching Assistance to Firefighters Grants to the Reported Needs of the U.S. Fire Service
Department of Homeland Security, USFA, and NFPA, October 2006. 41 pages.
Analysis of whether grants requested and received have addressed reported needs, by type of need, and whether popular types of grants have resulted in significant change in the overall national level of need.
All visitors: Download this report. (PDF, 2 MB)

State-by-State Findings of Four Years Later – Fire Department Needs and Response Capabilities
Department of Homeland Security, USFA, and NFPA, January 2007
50 reports – one for each state, 66 pages each.  
Updated assessment of needs of fire service in each of the 50 states, covering most areas addressed in the national report.

Note: Reports are in PDF format and each is approximately 1.5 MB.

Errata Notification: Changes were made to Table 1, Department Type by Community Size, because the published table showed only departments responding to the survey, not the projection to all departments in the state. The following states were affected:Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Nevada and Vermont.

Alabama	Alaska	Arizona	Arkansas	California
Colorado	Connecticut	Delaware	Florida	Georgia
Hawaii	Idaho	Illinois	Indiana	Iowa
Kansas	Kentucky	Louisiana	Maine	Maryland
Massachusetts	Michigan	Minnesota	Mississippi	Missouri
Montana	Nebraska	Nevada	New Hampshire	New Jersey
New Mexico	New York	North Carolina	North Dakota	Ohio
Oklahoma	Oregon	Pennsylvania	Rhode Island	South Carolina
South Dakota	Tennessee	Texas	Utah	Vermont
Virginia	Washington	West Virginia	Wisconsin	Wyoming

A Needs Assessment of the U.S. Fire Service
FEMA, USFA, and NFPA, December 2002. 160 pages.
A comprehensive study done by FEMA, USFA and NFPA examining the needs and response capabilities of the U.S. fire service. Among the factors examined are personnel and their capabilities; fire prevention and code enforcement; stations, apparatus and equipment; and the ability to handle unusually challenging incidents. Results are reported by nationwide and community size.

• All visitors can download this report. (PDF, 1 MB)
• "Underfunded, Understaffed, and Undertrained": Read NFPA President Jim Shannon's and others' reactions to the study in an NFPA Journal® Special Report (March/April 2003)

State-by-State Findings of Fire Department Needs and Response Capabilities
NFPA, July 2004
This study is a state-level breakdown of a national study conducted by NFPA in 2002, which was commissioned by FEMA/United States Fire Administration for Congress. Among the topics covered is fire department readiness for four specified tasks:

1. rescue for collapse of buildings where there are at least 50 occupants
2. hazmat and EMS response for a defined chemical/biological incidents.
3. response to a defined major wildland fire
4. response to a developing flood

Note: Reports are in PDF format and each is approximately 2.2 MB.

Alabama	Alaska	Arizona	Arkansas	California
Colorado	Connecticut	Delaware	Florida	Georgia
Hawaii	Idaho	Illinois	Indiana	Iowa
Kansas	Kentucky	Louisiana	Maine	Maryland
Massachusetts	Michigan	Minnesota	Mississippi	Missouri
Montana	Nebraska	Nevada	New Hampshire	New Jersey
New Mexico	New York	North Carolina	North Dakota	Ohio
Oklahoma	Oregon	Pennsylvania	Rhode Island	South Carolina
South Dakota	Tennessee	Texas	Utah	Vermont
Virginia	Washington	West Virginia	Wisconsin	Wyoming