Emergency responders

New construction methods and materials, renewable energy sources, and other emerging technologies all make today’s emergency response ever more challenging. We analyze fire service data and research fire ground tactics and personal protective equipment to help you stay safe in a fast changing world.

To learn about older reports, you can:

• See a list of reports, or search and download from the NFPA Library & Archives catalog;
• contact the library at +1 617 984-7445.

You can also browse NFPA workshop and symposium proceedings on this topic.

Latest Report

Firefighter Fatalities in the United States

This report contains overall statistics from NFPA's study on on-duty firefighter fatalities in 2021. It includes patterns by type of duty at time of fatal injury, cause and nature of injury, age, type of incident and type of property involved in fires.

Download the report.

Fatalities & injuries

• Fatal Firefighter Injuries in the United States (2023)
• Firefighter Injuries on the Fireground (2022)
• Firefighter Injuries in the United States (2022)
• The Economics of Firefighter Injuries in the United States: Executive Summary (2019)
• U.S. Volunteer Firefighter Injuries (2019)

Health & safety

• Firefighter Immersive Learning Environment (FILE) (2023)
• Firefighting Foams: Fire Service Roadmap (2022)
• Fireground Exposure of Firefighters: A Literature Review (2021)
• Development of real-time particulate and toxic gas sensors for firefighter health and safety (2019)

Trend tables

Fire Service in the United States

This report is a compilation of trend tables that include information on firefighters, firefighter deaths, firefighter injuries, and fire departments.

Download the tables

Needs Assessment of the U.S. Fire Service

• A Needs Assessment of the US Fire Service (2021)
• Needs Assessment tool

Personal protective equipment

• Evaluation of the Performance of Station Wear Worn under a NFPA 1971 Structural Fire Fighter Protective Ensemble (2018)
• Recommendations for Developing and Implementing a Fire Service Contamination Control Campaign (2017)
• Non-Destructive Assessment of Outer Shell Degradation for Firefighter Turnouts (2017)
• Fire Fighter Equipment Operational Environment: Evaluation of Thermal Conditions (2017)
• Research Roadmap for Smart Fire Fighting (2015)
• Evaluation and Enhancement of Fire Fighter PASS Effectiveness (2015)
• Development of Permeation Test Method for Zippers and Other Closures (2014)
• Data Collection Summary for PPE Care and Maintenance (2013)
• Evaluation of Intrinsic Safety for Emergency Responder Electronic Safety Equipment (2013)

Profiles of fire departments

• U.S. Fire Department Profile (2022)
• Canadian Fire Department Profile (2018)
• Fire Department Comparison tool

Fire department calls & operations

• An Analysis of Public Safety Call Answering and Event Processing Times (2022)
• Fire Department Roadway and Vehicle Incidents (2021)
• Literature Review on Spaceport Fire Safety (2018)
• Automotive Fire Apparatus Tire Replacement (2015)
• Risk-Based Decision Support in Managing Unwanted Alarms (2013) 
• False Alarm Activity in the U.S. (2013)
• Fire department calls - table

Fireground tactics

• Evaluating Data and Voice Signals in Pathway Survivable Cables for Life Safety Systems (2022)

• Next Generation Smart and Connected Fire Fighter System (2021)
• NFPA 1700 Training Materials: Development of Training Materials to Support the Implementation of NFPA 1700, Guide for Structural Fire Fighting (2021)
• An Analysis of Firefighter Breathing Air Replenishment Systems (2021)
• Fire and Emergency Service Personnel Knowledge and Skills Proficiency (2019)
• Flammable refrigerants firefighter training: Hazard assessment and demonstrative testing (2019)
• Review of Emergency Responder Standard Operating Procedures/Guidelines (SOP/SOG) (2019)
• Impact of Fixed Fire Fighting Systems on Road Tunnel Resilience, Ventilation, and Other Systems (2017)
• High Hazard Flammable Trains (HHFT) On-Scene Incident Commander Field Guide (2016)
• Liquid Petroleum Pipeline Emergencies On-Scene Incident Commander Field Guide (2016)
• Development of Fire Mitigations Solutions for PV Systems Installed on Building Roofs - Phase 1 (2016)
• Research Roadmap for Smart Fire Fighting (2015)
• Analysis of Recruit/Initial Fire Fighter Trainings Curricula (2015)
• Development of Emergency Responder SOPs/SOGs: Using Crowdsourcing to Address Electric Vehicle Fires (2014)
• Evaluation of Fire Service Training (2014)
• Best Practices for Emergency Response to Incidents Involving Electric Vehicles Battery Hazards: A Report on Full-Scale Testing Results (2013)
• Evaluation of Fire Flow Methodologies (2013)

Electric/Alternative Fuel Vehicles

• Alternative Fuel Vehicle Responder Training (2017)
• Best Practices for Emergency Response to Incidents Involving Electric Vehicles Battery Hazards: A Report on Full-Scale Testing Results (2013)

Fire prevention strategies

• Public Safety Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) Compliance Training: lLiteratures Review & Use Case Study (2022)
• Wildland/Urban Interface: Fire Department Wildfire Preparedness and Readiness Capabilities (2017)
• Development of an Environmental and Economic Assessment Tool (Enveco Tool) for Fire Events (2016)
• Fire Based Mobile Integrated Healthcare and Community Paramedicine (MIH & CP) – Data and Resources (2016)
• Pathways for Building Fire Spread at the Wildland Urban Interface (2015)