Firefighter Fatalities in

the United States-2017

June 2018
Rita F. Fahy
Paul R. LeBlanc
Joseph L. Molis

University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland

© June 2018 National Fire Protection Association

Abstract
In 2017, a total of 60 firefighters died while on-duty in the U.S. The largest share of deaths occurred
while firefighters were operating at fires (17 deaths). Sudden cardiac death accounted for the largest
share of deaths with 29 deaths. There was one multiple-fatality incident where two firefighters were
struck and killed and another was injured by a drunk driver at the scene of downed power lines.
Deaths among career and volunteer firefighters continued low in 2017, with both at the second
lowest level since 1977.

Keywords: Firefighter fatality, statistics, heart attack, sudden cardiac death

Acknowledgements
This study is made possible by the cooperation and assistance of the United States fire service,
CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the United States Fire Administration,
the Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the
Bureau of Land Management of the U.S. Department of the Interior. The authors would also like to
thank Carl E. Peterson, retired from NFPA's Public Fire Protection Division, and Chris Farrell and
Ken Holland of NFPA’s Public Fire Protection Division for their assistance on the study.

The authors would like to acknowledge the contributions of Paul R. LeBlanc, who co-authored this
study for 30 years and recently retired from NFPA after 40 years. His contributions will be greatly
missed.

Copies of this report are available from:

NFPA Research, Data and Analytics Division
1 Batterymarch Park
Quincy, MA 02169-7471
www.nfpa.org
E-mail: research@nfpa.org
Phone: 617-984-7450

NFPA No. FFD10

Table of Contents

Page
Table of Contents i
List of Tables and Figures ii
2017 Experience 1
Introduction 1
Long-Term Effects on Firefighter’s’ Physical and Emotional Health 2
Suicide 2
Cancer 3
Cardiac Issues 4
Type of Duty 5
Cause of Fatal Injury or Illness 6
Nature of Fatal Injury or Illness 7
Sudden Cardiac Deaths 7
Ages of Firefighters 8
Fireground Deaths 8
Vehicle-Related Deaths 9
Career/Volunteer Comparison 13
Intentional Fires and False Calls 14
In summary 14
References 15
2017 Narratives 25

Firefighter Fatalities in the United States-2017, 6/18 i NFPA Research, Quincy, MA

List of Tables and Figures

Page
Table 1 Comparison of On-Duty Deaths between Career
and Volunteer Firefighters, 2017 17
Figure 1 On-Duty Firefighter Deaths – 1977-2017 20
Figure 2 Firefighter Deaths by Type of Duty 2017 20
Figure 3. Firefighter Deaths by Cause of Injury - 2017 21
Figure 4 Firefighter Deaths by Nature of Injury -2017 21
Figure 5 Firefighter Deaths by Age and Cause of Death 2017 22
Figure 6 On-Duty Death Rates per 10,000 Career and
Volunteer Firefighters 2013-2017 22
Figure 7 Fireground Deaths by Fixed Property Use 23
Figure 8 On-Duty Fire Ground Deaths per 100,000 Structure Fires 2012-2016 23
Figure 9 Career and Volunteer Firefighter Deaths 1977-2017 24

Firefighter Fatalities in the United States-2017, 6/18 ii NFPA Research, Quincy, MA

2017 Experience

In 2017, 60 firefighters died while on-duty in the U.S. – the lowest number recorded since NFPA
began this study in 1977. The annual average number of deaths over the past decade is 75. Figure 1
shows on-duty firefighter deaths for the years 1977 through 2017, excluding the 340 firefighter deaths at
the World Trade Center in 2001, and the cancer-related deaths of responding firefighters that have
occurred since 2001.1
Of the 60 firefighters who died while on duty in 2017, 32 were volunteer firefighters, 21 were
career firefighters, three were employees of federal land management agencies, two were contractors
with state and federal land management agencies, and two were prison inmates.2
There was one multiple-fatality incidents in 2017: two firefighters were struck and killed and
another was injured by a drunk driver at the scene of downed power lines.
Analyses in this report examine the types of duty associated with firefighter deaths, the cause and
nature of fatal injuries to firefighters, and the ages of the firefighters who died. They highlight deaths in
intentionally-set fires and in motor vehicle-related incidents.3 Finally, the study presents summaries of
individual incidents that illustrate important concerns in firefighter safety.

Introduction

Each year, NFPA collects data on all firefighter fatalities in the U.S. that resulted from injuries or
illnesses that occurred while the victims were on-duty. The term on-duty refers to:
 being at the scene of an alarm, whether a fire or non-fire incident (including EMS calls);
 responding to or returning from an alarm;
 participating in other fire department duties such as training, maintenance, public education,
inspection, investigation, court testimony or fund raising; and
 being on call or stand-by for assignment at a location other than at the firefighter’s home or
place of business.
On-duty fatalities include any injury sustained in the line of duty that proves fatal, any illness
that was incurred as a result of actions while on duty that proves fatal, and fatal mishaps involving non-
emergency occupational hazards that occur while on duty. The types of injuries included in the first
category are mainly those that occur at a fire or other emergency incident scene, in training, or in crashes
while responding to or returning from alarms. Illnesses (including heart attacks) are included when the
exposure or onset of symptoms occurred during a specific incident or on-duty activity.

Firefighter Fatalities in the United States-2017, 6/18 1 NFPA Research, Quincy, MA

 The type of firefighters included in this study can be:
 members of local career and volunteer fire departments;
 seasonal, full-time and contract employees of state and federal agencies who have fire
suppression responsibilities as part of their job description;
 prison inmates serving on firefighting crews;
 military personnel performing assigned fire suppression activities;
 civilian firefighters working at military installations; and
 members of facility or industrial fire brigades.
Fatal injuries and illnesses are included even in cases where death is considerably delayed. When
the injury and the death occur in different years, the incident is counted in the year of the injury.
The NFPA recognizes that other organizations report numbers of duty-related firefighter
fatalities using different, more expansive, definitions that include deaths that occurred when the victims
were off-duty. (See, for example, the USFA and National Fallen Firefighters Memorial websites.*)
Readers comparing reported losses should carefully consider the definitions and inclusion criteria used
in any study.

Long-Term Effects on Firefighters’ Physical and Emotional Health

This study focuses on the deaths of firefighters that are due to specific events while on-duty, but
NFPA recognizes that a comprehensive study of on-duty firefighter fatalities would include chronic
illnesses, such as cancer or heart disease, that arise from occupational factors and prove fatal. The
number of deaths due to long-term exposures, however, cannot be estimated at this time because of
limitations in tracking the exposure of firefighters to toxic environments and substances and the
potential long-term effects of such exposures. Besides the challenges that firefighter illnesses pose for
gaining a complete picture of the firefighter fatality problem, we would be remiss if we did not also
monitor the increasingly well-publicized problem of firefighter suicide.
Suicide According to the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA), 91 firefighters and
17 EMTs and paramedics died by suicide in 2017. †
Due to the efforts of FBHA and others, recognition of the importance of behavioral health
programs and peer support for firefighters is becoming more widespread. As with heart disease and
cancer, this is a problem that follows firefighters after their careers end, whether in retirement or some

* USFA link is https://www.usfa.fema.gov/, National Fallen Firefighters' Memorial link is www.firehero.org

† http://www.ffbha.org/

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other form of separation from the fire service. In 2012, FBHA produced a report, published by the
National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) with support from USFA, on behavioral health and suicide
prevention.‡ In collaboration with National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), the Medical
University of South Carolina has developed a training course§ for counselors who work with firefighters.
The NVFC has a program for firefighters, EMTs and their families called Share the Load that points
them to resources and support for mental well-being.** The International Association of Fire Fighters
(IAFF) offers a peer-support training course for their members.
NFPA 1500, Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program, requires
access to a behavioral health program that provides assessment, counseling and treatment for such issues
as stress, anxiety, and depression. The goal of such programs is to change the culture of the fire service,
help people to identify the warning signs, eliminate any stigma associated with mental health issues and
asking for help, and provide training and assistance with retirement planning. According to FBHA
statistics, almost one-fifth of the firefighters and EMTs who died by suicide were retired firefighters and
EMTs. Early recognition and treatment of behavioral health issues are key to addressing this problem.
Cancer Regarding the long-term health effects of firefighting, there has been a vast change in
the attention now paid to cancer risk and cancer prevention in the fire service. These efforts include
research, education, behavioral changes and a variety of controls to minimize exposure to contaminants.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) undertook two large studies
focused on firefighter cancer and concluded that firefighters face a 9 percent increase in cancer diagnoses,
and a 14 percent increase in cancer-related deaths, compared to the general population in the U.S. The
first study was a multi-year project to examine the cancer risk of firefighters, using health records of
approximately 30,000 current and retired career firefighters from three large city fire departments to look
at mortality and cancer incidents. The second study looked at exposure-response among 20,000
firefighters from the same fire departments. Results of the first phase, which reported evidence of a
relationship between firefighting and cancer, were published in October, 2013.†† Results of the second
study, published in 2015, showed a relationship between firefighting and lung cancer and leukemia.‡‡
In efforts to raise awareness in the fire service of the heightened risk of cancer and ways to
reduce exposures, valuable video presentations have been produced by organizations including, among

‡
http://www.nvfc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ff_suicide_report.pdf
§
http://training.helping-heroes.org/user/login
**
http://www.nvfc.org/programs/share-the-load-program/
††
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/firefighters/pdfs/OEM_FF_Ca_Study_10-2013.pdf
‡‡
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4558385/

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others, the Boston Fire Department§§, the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Fire Department***
and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.††† These videos help to inform firefighters of the steps
they can take to address the hazards they face. Other efforts to inform the fire service of safe practices
stem from research undertaken by the Fire Protection Research Foundation, including an on-going four-
phase study‡‡‡ to enhance the cleaning procedures for PPE that are outlined in NFPA 1851, Standard on
Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity
Fire Fighting, and an earlier respiratory exposure study§§§ that was completed in 2012. The Firefighter
Cancer Support Network is an excellent resource for access to information on health-related topics and
support and mentorship following a cancer diagnosis.****
Although we cannot identify the total number of fire service-related cancer deaths that occur
each year, the International Association of Fire Fighters alone lists on its website more than 120
firefighter cancer deaths that were reported to them in 2017.††††
Cardiac Issues In contrast to the recent strong focus on firefighter cancer and suicide, heart
disease has been recognized as a serious health issue for the fire service for quite some time now.4
Sudden cardiac death has consistently accounted for the largest share of on-duty firefighter deaths since
the NFPA began this study in 1977. The NFPA has several standards that focus on the health risks to
firefighters. For example, NFPA 1582, Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for
Fire Departments, outlines for fire departments the medical requirements that must be met by candidate
firefighters and incumbent fire department members. NFPA 1500 calls for fire departments to establish a
firefighter health and fitness program that meets NFPA 1583, Standard on Health-Related Fitness
Programs for Fire Department Members, and requires that firefighters meet the medical requirements of
NFPA 1582.
Information on developing a wellness-fitness program is available from other organizations, for
example, the IAFC/IAFF Fire Service Joint Labor-Management Wellness-Fitness Initiative‡‡‡‡ and
NVFC’s Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program.§§§§ The Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program was launched

§§
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOvBypsaHog
*** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-7I0U3323Y
†††
http://www.everyonegoeshome.com/2016/02/17/the-silent-killer/
‡‡‡
http://www.nfpa.org/PPECleaning
§§§
https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Fire-statistics-and-reports/Research-reports/For-emergency-
responders/Respiratory-Exposure-Study-for-Fire-Fighters
****
http://www.firefightercancersupport.org/
††††
http://www.iaff.org/hs/lodd/advancedSearch.asp
‡‡‡‡
http://www.iaff.org/library/pdfs/HS/WFI%203rd%20Edition%20Low%20Resolution.pdf
§§§§
http://www.healthy-firefighter.org/

Firefighter Fatalities in the United States-2017, 6/18 4 NFPA Research, Quincy, MA

in 2003 to address heart attack prevention for all firefighters and EMS personnel, through fitness,
nutrition and health awareness.
We will continue to report on deaths that result from specific on-duty activities in this study, but
NFPA is focused on all aspects of health and safety in the fire service, and EMS, as evidenced
particularly by the Fire Protection Research Foundation’s work on cancer prevention behaviors and the
health and wellness provisions of NFPA 1500 and NFPA 450, Guide for Emergency Medical Services
and Systems. The remainder of this report will focus on the on-duty fatalities in 2017.

Type of Duty

In this report, we look at four major categories for types of duty that firefighters were engaged in
when they were fatally injured or suffered fatal medical events – fire ground, non-fire emergencies,
responding to or returning from fires and emergency calls, and training. The remaining deaths occurred
while firefighters were engaged in other on-duty activities.
Figure 2 shows the distribution of the 60 deaths by type of duty. The largest share of deaths
occurred while firefighters were operating at fires (17 deaths).
The 17 fireground deaths in 2017 is the second lowest number of fireground deaths that we have
observed since we began doing this study in 1977, and the second consecutive year that the number has
been below 20. In contrast, in the early 1970s, the number of fireground deaths annually averaged more
than 80 deaths per year.
Nine of the 17 fireground deaths occurred at structure fires and eight occurred at wildland fires.
Seven of the 17 fireground victims were volunteer firefighters, five were career firefighters, two were
members of inmate firefighting crews, one was a state contractor, one was a federal contractor, and one
was a federal wildland firefighter.
Eleven firefighters died at non-fire emergencies – five were operating at motor vehicle crashes,
three were at incidents with wires down, one was at the scene of a downed tree, one was investigating an
odor in a structure and one was checking on a possible flooding condition during a storm. Ten of the 11
were struck by passing vehicles and one suffered sudden cardiac death.
Ten deaths occurred during training activities. Sudden cardiac death claimed the lives of seven of
the firefighters. Three of these seven firefighters were engaged in physical fitness training; two were
involved in search and rescue training; one was training on vehicle extrication and one was involved in
hose training. Two of the other three training deaths resulted from traumatic injuries. One of these
firefighters fell from an aerial ladder during above ground fire training. Another was involved in a motor

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vehicle crash while traveling to an off-site drill. One firefighter died shortly after developing
complications from a recent medical procedure while he was attending a classroom refresher class at the
fire station.
Nine firefighters were killed responding to or returning from alarms. This is by far the lowest
number of deaths while responding to or returning from alarms in the 41 years of this study. Five of
these nine firefighters were killed in motor vehicle crashes. Three suffered fatal cardiac events and
another suffered a stroke. All crashes and sudden cardiac deaths are discussed in more detail later in this
report. Seven of the victims were volunteer firefighters; one was a career firefighter and one was a
wildland firefighter. The number of deaths that occurred while responding to or returning from calls has
averaged 17 per year over the past 10 years and 13 per year over the past five years. The first 10 years
that NFPA conducted this study (1977 through 1986), the average number of deaths per year while
responding to or returning from alarms was 36. There has been a marked reduction in both crash deaths
and cardiac-related deaths while responding to or returning from alarms over the past 40 years.
The remaining 13 firefighters died while involved in a variety of normal station or administrative
activities. Eleven of these fatalities were due to sudden cardiac death and one to a stroke. One firefighter
was killed in a crash while on fire department business.

Cause of Fatal Injury or Illness

Figure 3 shows the distribution of deaths by cause of fatal injury or illness. The term cause refers
to the action, lack of action, or circumstances that resulted directly in the fatal injury.5
Overexertion, stress and medical issues accounted for by far the largest share of deaths. Of the 32
deaths in this category, 29 were classified as sudden cardiac deaths (usually heart attacks), two were due
to strokes and one was due to the medical procedure mentioned above. See the section below for more
details on sudden cardiac deaths.
The second leading cause of fatal injury was struck by vehicles, which claimed 10 lives. Eight
other firefighters were killed in crashes. These vehicle-related deaths are discussed in detail later in this
report.
Five firefighters were struck and killed by objects – three by trees that fell at separate wildland
fires, one by a hose he had just wrapped around a fire hydrant, and one by a chainsaw when he lost his
balance while cutting a fire line on a wildland fire.
Three firefighters were killed by rapid fire progress – two while operating on separate wildland
fires and one at a structure fire.

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 Two firefighters fell from ladders – one while climbing an aerial ladder during a high-rise fire
training exercise and another from the basket of an aerial while fighting a structure fire.

Nature of Fatal Injury or Illness

The term nature refers to the medical process by which death occurred and is often referred to as
cause of death on death certificates and in autopsy reports.
Figure 4 shows the distribution of deaths by nature of fatal injury or illness. As in almost every
year since 1977, sudden cardiac death accounted for the largest share of the deaths annually, with 29
deaths. Sudden cardiac deaths will be discussed in more detail in the next section.
The next leading cause of death was internal trauma and crushing, with 24 deaths.
Three firefighters died of burns, and there were two deaths due to stroke and one each to
laceration and complications from a medical procedure.

Sudden Cardiac Deaths

In 2017, 29 sudden cardiac deaths resulted with onset while the victim was on-duty. This is the
fourth time in the last six years that the toll has been below 30, but still accounts for almost half of the
deaths while on duty in 2017. Cardiac-related events accounted for 43 percent of the on-duty fatalities
over the past 10 years.
From 1977 through 1986, an average of 60 firefighters a year suffered sudden cardiac deaths
while on duty (44.7 percent of the on-duty deaths during that period). These are cases in which the onset
of symptoms occurred while the victim was on-duty and death occurred immediately or shortly
thereafter. The average number of deaths fell to 44 a year in the 1990s and to 33 in the past decade. In
spite of this reduction, sudden cardiac death continues to be the number one cause of on-duty firefighter
fatalities in the U.S. and in almost every year has accounted for the single largest share of deaths in the
year. In addition, countless deaths occur annually of current and former firefighters whose health was
compromised during their years in the fire service. For 2017, the U.S. Fire Administration is processing
more than 20 fatalities that potentially qualify for federal death benefits under the Hometown Heroes
Act (deaths within 24 hours of non-routine strenuous or stressful physical activity).

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Ages of Firefighters

The firefighters who died in 2017 ranged in age from 19 to 83, with a median age of 51.5 years.
Figure 5 shows the distribution of firefighter deaths by age and whether the cause of death was sudden
cardiac death or not.
Sudden cardiac death accounts for a higher proportion of the deaths among older firefighters, as
might be expected. More than half of the firefighters over age 40 who died in 2017 died of heart attacks
or other cardiac events. Interestingly, four of the seven firefighters aged 65 and over died of traumatic
injuries – two were struck at emergency scenes by vehicles, one was killed in a crash and one was fatally
burned on a wildland fire.
Figure 6 shows death rates by age, using combined career and volunteer firefighter fatality data
for the five-year period from 2013 through 2017 and estimates of the number of career and volunteer
firefighters in each age group from NFPA’s 2015 profile of fire departments (the mid-year in the
range).6
The lowest death rates were for firefighters between 20 and 39. Their death rate was less than half
the all-age average. The rate for firefighters aged 60 and over was two and one-half times the average.
Firefighters aged 50 and over accounted just over half of all on-duty firefighter deaths over the five-year
period, although they represent only one-quarter of all career and volunteer firefighters in the U.S.

Fireground Deaths

Of the 17 fireground fatalities, seven were due to sudden cardiac death, six to internal trauma,
three to burns and one to laceration. Nine of the 17 deaths occurred at structure fires and eight on
wildland fires.
This is the second lowest number of fireground deaths since this study was first done in 1977,
and is the second consecutive year that the total has been below 20. Except for 2001 at the World Trade
Center and 2013, when an exceptionally high number of firefighters were killed at the scene of fires (19
firefighters on the Yarnell Hill wildland fire and nine in an explosion at a fertilizer plant), deaths on the
fireground have been declining fairly steadily since 1999.
Figure 7 shows the distribution of the 17 fireground deaths by fixed property use. The nine
deaths at structure fires include six in fires involving one- and two-family dwellings, two in apartment
buildings and one death at a fire in a shopping center. One of the single-family homes was vacant and
abandoned.

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 None of the structures in which firefighters died was reported to have had an automatic fire
suppression system.
Of the eight firefighters who died at wildland fire incidents – three were struck by falling trees,
two were overrun by fire in separate incidents, one was fatally cut by his chainsaw, one crashed his
vehicle while on his way to refilling his water tank, and one suffered a sudden cardiac event. In 2017, no
firefighters died at the scene of motor vehicle fires.
To put the hazards of firefighting in various types of structures into perspective, the authors
examined the number of fireground deaths per 100,000 structure fires by property use. Estimates of the
structure fire experience in each type of property were obtained from the NFPA’s annual fire loss studies
from 2012 through 2016 (the 2017 results are not yet available) and from the updated firefighter fatality
data for the corresponding years. The results are shown in Figure 8.
This figure illustrates that, although many more firefighter deaths occur at residential structure
fires than at fires in any other type of structure, fires in some nonresidential structures, such as
manufacturing, public assembly, storage and mercantile properties, are more hazardous to firefighters,
on average. There were 8.6 fireground deaths per 100,000 nonresidential structure fires from 2012
through 2016, compared to 3.5 deaths per 100,000 residential structure fires. The highest death rates
over the five-year period occurred in manufacturing properties. The very high rate over this time period
is largely influenced by the fertilizer plant fire in 2013 that killed nine firefighters. The high rate for
public assembly properties is influenced by two multiple-fatality deaths in the same year that claimed
seven lives. The low rate in educational and healthcare/correctional properties over that five-year period
may reflect the fact that these occupancies are among the most regulated, most-protected and most-
frequently inspected and that their occupants are among the most likely to call the fire department to
report fires while the fires are still in their early stages. The rate in that five-year period for stores/offices
and storage properties, which includes garages at dwellings, reflects the relatively small number of
fatalities that have occurred in such structures in recent years.
From 2008 through 2017, there were 19 deaths in 17 fires in vacant buildings and buildings
under demolition or renovation.

Vehicle-Related Deaths

In 2017, 18 firefighters died in vehicle-related incidents, including 10 firefighters who were

struck by vehicles and eight who died in vehicle crashes. These results are very different from what we
usually observe in a year. The 10 deaths of firefighters struck by vehicles is far higher than the average

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of four deaths a year over the previous 30 years. Only twice before has the total been 10 or higher. In
contrast, crash fatalities, which used to consistently account for the highest share of traumatic deaths
annually, are below 10 for the fourth time in the past seven years.
Five of the firefighters were at the scene of motor vehicle crashes. A firefighter directing traffic
on a dark road at the scene of a motor vehicle crash was struck by a driver who did not see him until it
was too late to avoid him. A firefighter guiding an engine that was backing along the road at the scene of
a crash was struck by the engine. It was not clear if he tripped or fell beneath the vehicle. And a
firefighter who was returning to his vehicle after operating at a crash scene was killed by a vehicle that
lost control while traveling at a high rate of speed on a dark, wet, slippery road. A firefighter reportedly
walking down the middle of the road after finishing up at a scene was stuck by a passing vehicle. The
driver was not cited. And a firefighter retrieving his gear from his vehicle was struck by another
responding firefighter who was intoxicated.
Three of the firefighters fatally struck by vehicles were at the scene of downed wires. Two
firefighters were killed in one incident when they, and another firefighter, were standing off the road but
were struck by a vehicle that veered off the main road. The driver was intoxicated. In the other incident
involving downed wires, the victim was standing in front of a parked fire department vehicle that was
struck in a chain reaction crash when a driver failed to stop for another vehicle that had slowed at the scene.
During a pre-dawn check of flooding conditions, a firefighter was struck and killed by a passing
driver traveling at a high rate of speed. At the scene of a downed tree, a firefighter was killed when a
driver struck his vehicle which then struck a brush truck that pinned the firefighter underneath. All
emergency vehicles at the scene had lights operating and the victim was wearing appropriate reflective
clothing. The driver was cited for impaired and reckless driving.
Four of the eight firefighters who died in road crashes were killed while responding to fires and
one was killed while returning from a fire. One was driving to a training event, one was on official fire
department business and one was operating at the scene of a wildland fire.
 A firefighter driving a tanker to a structure fire lost control of the vehicle and was ejected.
The vehicle rolled over, pinning him. The vehicle was equipped with seatbelts, but he was
not wearing his.
 A firefighter responding to a house fire in his personally-owned vehicle was struck at an
intersection by a drunk driver in a stolen vehicle who failed to stop at a stop sign. Although
the firefighter was reportedly wearing his seatbelt, he was partially ejected.

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  A firefighter was driving a tanker to a house fire when the vehicle left the road and tipped
over, sliding into an embankment. The tank came loose from the vehicle and struck the cab,
killing the driver.
 A firefighter driving to a field fire in an engine went off the road on a curve, lost control and
overturned. The firefighter was ejected from the vehicle.
 A firefighter returning home from working on a wildland fire was struck head on by an
oncoming vehicle when it blew a tire. There was no information available on seatbelt use,
but the driver was not ejected.
 A firefighter who was passenger in a personally-owned vehicle traveling to a training
exercise was ejected when the vehicle went off the snow-covered road into a ditch and
overturned. He was not wearing a seatbelt. Two other firefighters in the vehicle were
wearing their seatbelts and survived.
 A firefighter driving a brush truck on fire department business was waiting at an intersection
to make a left turn when the truck was rear-ended by a tractor trailer, and then struck again
by an oncoming vehicle.
 A firefighter was driving an empty tanker to refill it while operating on a wildland fire. He
lost control on a downhill curve, crashed through a guardrail and down a ravine. No other
details were available.
Of the firefighters mentioned above who died in crashes, one was using a seatbelt, three were not
using seatbelts, and no details on seatbelt use were reported for four victims. Three of the victims were
ejected from the vehicles and another was partially ejected.
NFPA publishes several standards related to road and vehicle safety issues.
 NFPA 1002, Standard on Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications,
identifies the minimum job performance requirements for firefighters who drive and operate
fire apparatus, in both emergency and nonemergency situations.
 NFPA 1451, Standard for a Fire and Emergency Services Vehicle Operations Training
Program, provides for the development of a written vehicle operations training program,
including the organizational procedures for training, vehicle maintenance, and identifying
equipment deficiencies.
 NFPA 1911, Standard for the Inspection, Maintenance, Testing, and Retirement of In-Service
Automotive Fire Apparatus, details a program to ensure that fire apparatus are serviced and
maintained to keep them in safe operating condition.

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  NFPA 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, addresses vehicle stability to prevent
rollovers, and gives manufacturers options on how to provide it. New vehicles will have their
maximum speed limited, based on their weight, and will have vehicle data recorders to
monitor, among other things, acceleration and deceleration, and seatbelt use.
 NFPA 1906, Standard for Wildland Fire Apparatus, establishes minimum design,
performance and testing requirements for new vehicles over 10,001 lb. gross vehicle weight
(4,500 kg) rating that are specifically designed for wildland fire suppression. NFPA 1091,
Standard for Traffic Control Incident Management Professional Qualifications, just published
in 2015, identifies the minimum job performance requirements necessary to perform
temporary traffic control duties at emergency incidents on or near an active roadway.
 NFPA 414, Standard for Aircraft Rescue and Fire-Fighting Vehicles, covers the criteria for
design, performance, and acceptance of aircraft rescue and fire-fighting vehicles that carry
personnel and equipment to the scene of an aircraft emergency.
The provisions of NFPA 1500, Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health
Program, include requirements that operators successfully complete an approved driver training
program, possess a valid driver's license for the class of vehicle, and operate the vehicle in compliance
with applicable traffic laws. All vehicle occupants must be seated in approved riding positions and
secured with seatbelts before drivers move the apparatus, and drivers must obey all traffic signals and
signs and all laws and rules of the road. This includes coming to a complete stop when encountering red
traffic lights, stop signs, stopped school buses with flashing warning lights, blind intersections and other
intersection hazards, and unguarded railroad grade crossings. Passengers are required to remain seated
and must not release or loosen their seatbelts for any reason while the vehicle is in motion. In related
efforts, the USFA has an excellent website with resources on emergency vehicle and roadway operations
safety.*****
The focus of vehicle safety programs should not be exclusively on fire department apparatus,
since, over the years, private vehicles have been the vehicles most frequently involved in road crashes.
NFPA 1500, Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program, includes a
requirement that when members are authorized to respond to incidents or to fire stations in private
vehicles, the fire department must establish specific rules, regulations, and procedures relating to the
operation of private vehicles in an emergency mode. NFPA 1451, Standard for a Fire and Emergency

*****
http://www.usfa.fema.gov/operations/ops_vehicle.html

Firefighter Fatalities in the United States-2017, 6/18 12 NFPA Research, Quincy, MA

Services Vehicle Operations Training Program, also requires training for those using privately-owned
vehicles.
Requirements are also in effect for emergency personnel operating on roadways. The 2009
version of the Federal Highway Administration’s Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices
(MUTCD) requires anyone working on a roadway to wear an ANSI 107-compliant high-visibility vest.
An exemption was created for firefighters and others engaged on roadways that allows them to wear
NFPA-compliant personal protective clothing (turn-out gear) when directly exposed to flames, heat and
hazardous material. NFPA 1500 requires firefighters working on traffic assignments where they are
endangered by motor vehicle traffic to wear clothing with fluorescent and retroreflective material and
use fire apparatus in a blocking position to protect firefighters. The 2009 edition of NFPA 1901 requires
that ANSI 207-compliant breakaway high-visibility vests be carried on all new fire apparatus, and
MUTCD 2009 allows emergency responders to use them in lieu of ANSI 107-compliant apparel. Advice
on compliance with the updated Federal rules can be found at: MUTCD.††††† NFPA 1901 also requires
reflective striping for improved visibility on new apparatus and a reflective chevron on the rear of fire
apparatus. Advice on how to improve visibility of existing apparatus can be found at: video.‡‡‡‡‡

Career/Volunteer Comparison

Figure 9 compares the number of deaths of career firefighters and volunteer firefighters from
local fire departments since the study was first done in 1977. The 21 deaths of career firefighters while
on-duty in 2017 is a slight increase over the 19 reported in 2016, which was the lowest total ever
reported in this study. In the earliest years of this study, the annual average number of deaths of career
firefighters while on duty was 57. The 31 deaths of volunteer firefighters is the second lowest total in all
the years of thispage 13 study, and brings the average number of deaths in the most recent 10-year
period to fewer than 40 deaths per year -- far lower than the average of 67 deaths per year in the earliest
years of this study.
A breakdown of the fatality experience of the 52 career and volunteer firefighters killed in 2017
is shown in Table 1.

†††††
http://www.respondersafety.com/Articles/2009_Edition_of_the_Manual_on_Uniformed_Traffic_Control_Devices_MUT
CD_Released_December_16_2009.aspx
‡‡‡‡‡
http://www.respondersafety.com/MarkedAndSeen.aspx

Firefighter Fatalities in the United States-2017, 6/18 13 NFPA Research, Quincy, MA

Intentional Fires and False Calls

One firefighter was killed and two others were injured as a result of one intentionally-set fire in
2017, in a gym at a shopping center. The victim and his partner were pulling ceiling tiles to gain access
to fire in the attic when they were overcome by rapidly developing fire. Another firefighter was injured
while searching for the downed firefighters. From 2008 through 2017, 41 firefighters (5.5 percent of all
on-duty deaths) died in connection with intentionally-set fires, either at the fire or while responding to or
returning from the fire.
In 2017, no deaths resulted during a false call. Over the past 10 years, six firefighter deaths have
resulted from false calls, including malicious false alarms and alarm malfunctions.

In Summary

There were 60 on-duty firefighter deaths in 2017, the lowest number we’ve reported since 1977,
when NFPA began producing this study. Sudden cardiac death accounted for more than half of the
fatalities.

The number of firefighters who were fatally struck by vehicles was unusually high in 2017, while
the number of crash deaths continued to occur at a rate far lower than what we’ve seen in past decades.

The number of deaths at the scene of fires continued far lower than usual – 17 deaths, only two
more than reported in 2016, with nine at structure fires and eight at wildland fires.

Deaths among career and volunteer firefighters continued low in 2017, with both at the second
lowest level since 1977.

The hazardous nature of firefighting cannot be fully captured in a study that focuses only on
deaths that occur while firefighters are on the job, but it is not possible to accurately assess the total
number of deaths and injuries that have resulted annually due to long-term exposures to carcinogens and
physical and emotional stress and strain. This report focuses on the deaths of firefighters resulting from
specific injuries or exposures while on duty in 2017. A complete picture of duty-related fatalities would
also include the cancer, cardiac, stress and other fatalities that were caused by exposures to toxins or the
emotional toll of responses. Other sources can provide some perspective on these aspects of the overall
fatality problem. As mentioned above, the IAFF lists on its website more than 120 firefighter cancer
deaths that were reported to them in 2017 and FBHA reports 91 firefighters and 17 EMTs and
paramedics died by suicide in 2017. Over the past several years, in their annual report on U.S. firefighter

Firefighter Fatalities in the United States-2017, 6/18 14 NFPA Research, Quincy, MA

deaths, the U.S. Fire Administration has included an average of 15 firefighters a year who qualified for
Hometown Hero benefits, which cover firefighters who suffer a heart attack or stroke within 24 hours
after engaging in non-routine stressful or strenuous activity on duty. The USFA is following up on more
than 20 such fatalities in 2017.
NFPA's Fire Protection Research Foundation is currently involved in three studies – a 30-year
cohort study to track exposures and their effects, a study to validate procedures for the optimal removal
of several types of contaminants from firefighting gear, and the third is a study to develop prototypes for
real-time particulate and toxic gas sensors to alert firefighters to hazards in the air. The Foundation
recently released a report on the development and implementation of a Fire Service Contaminant
Control campaign. The findings from these studies will inform relevant NFPA standards for the fire
service as well as educational and training programs aimed at reducing firefighter exposures.

References
1. The NFPA’s files for firefighter on-duty fatal injuries are updated continually for all years.
2. For this report, the term volunteer refers to any firefighter whose principal occupation is not that
of a full-time, paid member of a fire department. The term career refers to any firefighter whose
occupation is that of a full-time, paid fire department member.
3. For this report, the term motor vehicle-related incident refers to motor vehicle collisions
(including aircraft and boats) and rollovers, as well as to incidents such as falls from or struck by
vehicles where the involvement of the vehicle played an integral role in the death.
4. E. S. Soteriades, D. L. Smith, A. J. Tsismenakis, D. M. Baur, and S. N. Kales, “Cardiovascular
Disease in US Firefighters: A Systematic Review,” Cardiology in Review, Vol. 19, No. 4,
July/August 2011, pp. 202-215.
5. The categories for cause of injury and nature of injury are based on the 1981 edition of NFPA
901, Uniform Coding for Fire Protection.
6. H. J. G. Haynes and G. P. Stein, “U.S. Fire Department Profile 2015,” National Fire Protection
Association, Quincy, Massachusetts, April 2017.

Firefighter Fatalities in the United States-2017, 6/18 15 NFPA Research, Quincy, MA

 U.S. Department of Justice Death, Disability and Educational Benefits
for Public Safety Officers and Survivors

Line of duty deaths: The Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Act, signed into law in 1976, provides
a federal death benefit to the survivors of the nation’s federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officers,
firefighters, and rescue and ambulance squad members, both career and volunteer, whose deaths are the direct
and proximate result of a traumatic injury sustained in the line of duty. The Act was amended in 2000 to
include FEMA employees performing official, hazardous duties related to a declared major disaster or
emergency. Effective December 15, 2003, public safety officers are covered for line-of-duty deaths that are a
direct and proximate result of a heart attack or stroke, as defined in the Hometown Heroes Survivors’ Benefits
Act of 2003. The Dale Long PSOB Improvements Act of 2012 expands the Hometown Heroes Act to include
vascular ruptures.
A 1988 amendment increased the amount of the benefit from $50,000 to $100,000 and included an annual
cost-of-living escalator. On October 1 of each year, the benefit changes as a result. The enactment of the USA
PATRIOT bill in 2001 increased the benefit to $250,000. As of October 1, 2017, the current benefit is
$350,079, a lump sum and tax free benefit.
A decedent’s spouse and minor children are the first eligible beneficiaries for PSOB Program purposes. In
cases in which the public safety officer had no surviving spouse or eligible children, the death benefit is to be
awarded to either the individual most recently designated as beneficiary for PSOB benefits with the officer’s
public safety agency, organization, or unit, or, if there is no designation of beneficiary of PSOB benefits on
file, then to the individual designated as beneficiary under the most recently executed life insurance policy on
file with the agency at the time of death. (See 42 U.S.C. § 3796(a)(4) for specific details.) If no individuals
qualify under 42 U.S.C. § 3796(a)(4), then the benefit is paid to the public safety officer’s surviving parents; if
the officer is not survived by a parent, the benefit may be paid to the officer’s children who would be eligible
to receive it but for their age (i.e., adult children).

Line of duty disabilities: In 1990, Congress amended the PSOB benefits program to include permanent
and total disabilities that occur on or after November 29, 1990. The amendment covers public safety officers
who are permanently unable to perform any gainful employment in the future. PSOB is intended for those few,
tragic cases where an officer survives a catastrophic, line of duty injury. Only then, in the presence of the
program’s statutory and regulatory qualifying criteria, will PSOB’s disability benefit be awarded. The bill’s
supporters anticipated that few PSOB disability claims would be eligible annually.

Public Safety Officers’ Educational Assistance Program (PSOEA): An additional benefit, signed into
law in October 1996 and amended in 1998, provides an educational assistance allowance to the spouse and
children of public safety officers whose deaths or permanent and total disabilities qualify under the PSOB Act.
This benefit is provided directly to dependents who attend a program of education at an eligible education
institution and are the children or spouses of covered public safety officers. It is retroactive to January 1, 1978,
for beneficiaries who have received or are eligible to receive the PSOB death benefit. Students may apply for
PSOEA funds for up to 45 months of full-time classes. As of October 1, 2017, the maximum benefit a student
may receive is $ 1,041 per month of full-time attendance.

Further benefits information: To receive additional information on filing a disability claim or to receive
additional information about coverage, call, email, or write the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Office, Bureau
of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, 810 7th Street, N.W.,
Washington DC 20531. The telephone number is (888) 744-6513 and the email address is
AskPSOB@usdoj.gov. Please note that the PSOB Customer Resource Center is available to take calls Monday
through Friday from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM ET. PSOB death claims can be filed online as well at:
https://www.psob.bja.ojp.gov/benefits/.

Firefighter Fatalities in the United States-2017, 6/18 16 NFPA Research, Quincy, MA

 Table 1
Comparison of On-Duty Deaths Between
Career and Volunteer Firefighters, 2017*

Career Firefighters Volunteer Firefighters

Number Percent Number Percent
of Deaths of Deaths of Deaths of Deaths

Type of Duty
Operating at fireground 5 24 % 7 22 %
Responding to or returning from alarms 1 5 % 7 22 %
Operating at non-fire emergencies 1 5 % 10 31 %
Training 5 24 % 4 13 %
Other on-duty 9 43 % 4 13 %

TOTALS 21 100 % 32 100 %

Cause of Fatal Injury

Overexertion/stress/other related 15 71 % 16 50 %
Motor vehicle crash 1 5 % 5 16 %
Fell 2 10 % 0 0 %
Struck by vehicle 1 5 % 9 28 %
Struck by object 0 0 % 1 3 %
Rapid fire progress 2 10 % 1 3 %

TOTALS 21 100 % 32 100 %

Nature of Fatal Injury

Sudden cardiac death 13 62 % 15 47 %
Internal trauma/crushing 4 19 % 15 47 %
Stroke 1 5 % 1 3 %
Burns 2 10 % 1 3 %
Medical complications 1 5 % 0 0 %

TOTALS 21 100 % 32 100 %

Rank
Firefighter 13 62 % 21 66 %
Company officer 4 19 % 3 9%
Chief officer 4 19 % 8 25 %

TOTALS 21 100 % 32 100 %

Firefighter Fatalities in the United States-2017, 6/18 17 NFPA Research, Quincy, MA

 Table 1
Comparison of On-Duty Deaths Between
Career and Volunteer Firefighters, 2017*, (Continued)

Career Firefighters Volunteer Firefighters

Number Percent Number Percent
of Deaths of Deaths of Deaths of Deaths

Ages of Firefighters
All deaths

26 to 30 1 5 % 3 9 %
31 to 35 2 10 % 2 6 %
36 to 40 1 5 % 1 3 %
41 to 45 4 19 % 2 6 %
46 to 50 3 14 % 2 6 %
51 to 55 7 33 % 6 19 %
56 to 60 3 14 % 6 19 %
61 to 65 0 0 % 3 9 %
Over 65 0 0 % 7 22 %

TOTALS 21 100 % 32 100 %

Ages of Firefighters
Sudden cardiac deaths only

26 to 30 0 0 % 1 7 %
31 to 35 0 0 % 1 7 %
36 to 40 1 8 % 0 0 %
41 to 45 2 15 % 1 7 %
46 to 50 3 23 % 2 13 %
51 to 55 5 38 % 1 7 %
56 to 60 2 15 % 6 40 %
61 to 65 0 0 % 1 7 %
Over 65 0 0 % 2 13 %

TOTALS 13 100 % 15 100 %

Fireground Deaths by Fixed Property Use

Dwellings 3 60 % 5 71 %
Wildland fire 1 20 % 2 29 %
Stores/offices 1 20 % 0 0%

TOTALS 5 100 % 7 100 %

Firefighter Fatalities in the United States-2017, 6/18 18 NFPA Research, Quincy, MA

 Table 1
Comparison of On-Duty Deaths Between
Career and Volunteer Firefighters, 2017*, (Continued)

Career Firefighters Volunteer Firefighters

Number Percent Number Percent
of Deaths of Deaths of Deaths of Deaths

Years of Service
5 or less 2 10 % 6 19 %
6 to 10 3 14 % 3 9 %
11 to 15 1 5 % 2 6 %
16 to 20 4 19 % 3 9 %
21 to 25 7 33 % 3 9 %
26 to 30 4 19 % 3 9 %
Over 30 0 0 % 9 28 %
Not reported 0 0 % 3 9 %

TOTALS 21 100 % 32 100 %

Attributes of Fireground Deaths**

Intentionally-set fires 1 0
Search and rescue operations 1 0

Motor Vehicle Crashes 1 5

False Alarms 0 0

Source: NFPA’s Fire Incident Data Organization.

* This table does not include the 7 victims who were employees or contractors with federal or state
land management agencies, or members of an inmate fire crew.

** Because these attributes are not mutually exclusive, totals and percentages are not shown.

Firefighter Fatalities in the United States-2017, 6/18 19 NFPA Research, Quincy, MA

Firefighter Fatalities in the United States-2017, 6/18 20 NFPA Research, Quincy, MA
Firefighter Fatalities in the United States-2017, 6/18 21 NFPA Research, Quincy, MA
Firefighter Fatalities in the United States-2017, 6/18 22 NFPA Research, Quincy, MA
Firefighter Fatalities in the United States-2017, 6/18 23 NFPA Research, Quincy, MA
Firefighter Fatalities in the United States-2017, 6/18 24 NFPA Research, Quincy, MA
2017 Narratives

Wildland
A crew of inmate firefighters was tasked with clearing brush and tree limbs along a road in a remote
mountainous region with limited access. On the first day, a safety briefing was held and work begun on
the project. On the third day at the work site, the crew was picking up piles of limbs and brush they had
cleared and placed along the side of the roadway, and placing the piles of debris in the chipper.
While the crew was working near the fully-throttled chipper, their supervisor heard two loud pops. He
saw a large tree falling towards the crew.
The supervisor immediately yelled and warned the crew that a tree was falling from the steep hillside.
None of the crew members reacted and branches from the tree struck and injured one of the inmates.
The top 18 feet (5.5 meters) of the 146-foot-tall (44.5-meter) tree struck a 26-year-old inmate firefighter
in the head, neck, and chest while he was working near the chipper.
Nearby firefighters that witnessed the tree fall grabbed a trauma bag and began life saving measures,
including cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The supervisor attempted to call for help but due to the remote
location his messages were not transmitted. He ran approximately 400 yards (122 meters) downhill and
down the road to use his radio to request a medical response.
Once the advanced life support unit arrived, paramedics pronounced the victim dead approximately an
hour after he was struck.
Several issues and lessons learned were identified by the reporting organization including that the tree
was identified as a hazard but it was estimated to be outside the work area. Another issue was that the
crew could not hear the supervisor’s warning due to the noise of the chipper.

Sudden Cardiac Death

A local fire department responded to a reported fire in a single-family home with a ground floor area of
approximately 660 sq. ft. (61 m2). Upon the department’s arrival, they encountered a bedroom fire on
the second-story in the wood-frame home.
First arriving companies began an aggressive interior attack, stretching a hose line up the interior stairs
and knocking down the flames.
Fire investigators determined that an occupant discarded cigarette butts into a trash barrel and then took
a shower. Flames grew out of the trash can and the fire quickly extended to the room and contents.
Smoke alarms were located on the first story only and they did not operate. The occupant got out of the
shower, saw the smoke, exited the building and dialed 911.
A 21-year veteran firefighter wearing a full protective ensemble helped companies advance the hose line
up the front stairs. Once the hoseline was in place, he proceeded to perform overhaul of the second-
story bedroom.
Crews in the area assisting with overhaul found him on the floor unconscious in cardiac arrest. They
quickly called a mayday and removed him from the building.
The 54-year-old victim did not have a known medical history. After an autopsy, the fire department
reported that his cardiac arrest was caused by overexertion.

Firefighter Fatalities in the United States-2017, 6/18 25 NFPA Research, Quincy, MA

Struck by Vehicle
A fire department responded to a report of a transformer issue and dump truck crash. Upon their arrival,
they found a dump truck tangled in the power lines at a “Y” intersection. The intersection was not
blocked but the power lines were crossed over both roadways.
Nearly an hour after arriving on scene, the power company arrived. Three firefighters wearing reflective
vests were standing off the roadway in a gravel area in the middle of the “Y” intersection awaiting
direction from the incident commander who was conferring with power company representatives.
A small car approached the scene and left the road, driving into the gravel area in the “Y” intersection
and striking the three firefighters. The driver then fled the scene in the car.
Two firefighters suffered severe blunt force trauma and were pronounced dead at the scene. One was a
53-year-old firefighter and the other an 80-year-old deputy chief. The third firefighter, a 15-year veteran
of the department, suffered two broken ribs and a bruised leg.
The 31-year old driver of the vehicle was apprehended approximately 6 miles (9.6 km) from the scene of
the crash and was charged with driving under the influence.

Sudden Cardiac Death

A 42-year-old firefighter collapsed into cardiac arrest while cleaning firefighting equipment after a
structure fire.
The department had responded to fire in a wood-frame pole barn at 02:19 hours. The cause of the fire
was listed as unintentional. A heat lamp had been placed too close to combustible materials in the barn
to keep several pets warm during the night.
The victim, who had a year of experience on the department, had arrived on one of the first fire
companies on scene. He performed suppression operations in a full structural firefighting protective
ensemble including self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). The incident commander rotated the
victim’s crew into rehabilitation where the victim, along with other members of his company, swapped
out their self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) cylinders and rested for approximately 10-15
minutes. After rehabilitation, the victim donned his full structural firefighting protective ensemble with
self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and performed overhaul. After the incident was mitigated,
he returned to the firehouse and began cleaning equipment and tools, and preparing the apparatus for the
next emergency response.
After saying goodbye to the victim, the chief left the firehouse at approximately 05:30 hours and went
home. Sometime around 09:15 hours, the victim’s fiancé called the chief and fellow firefighters stating
the victim had not returned home from the fire. Firefighters found the victim dead on the apparatus floor.

Overrun by Fire
During a multi-day deployment on a large wildland fire, a task force of several engine companies were
tasked with establishing a fire break with two bulldozers and several helicopters.
As the dozers finished up the fire line, the group began to reestablish the anchor point. A lookout point
was established and a safety zone was identified in the black (burned area). As a hose line crew
advanced along the dozer line, they extinguished spot fires near the edges. Crews reported a little flare
up in the unburned area. The firefighter operating the nozzle of a 700-foot (213-meter) hand line
noticed a spot fire flare up approximately 20 feet (6 meters) from the fire line in the tall unburned fuel.

Firefighter Fatalities in the United States-2017, 6/18 26 NFPA Research, Quincy, MA

The 32-year-old firefighter reached the small fire when suddenly spot fires ignited and the small fires
erupted, cutting off his escape route. The trapped firefighter requested air support using his portable
radio and began traveling parallel to the recently-cut fire line, but his escape route was cut off. The
safety spotter called out over the radio to “get out of there”. A mayday was called and acknowledged by
the incident commander. Air support, additional ground units, and an advanced life support ambulance
were dispatched to the area.
The trapped firefighter turned down the hill, but two other fires erupted in front of him. He was running
through chest- to head-high vegetation, trying to escape. The safety spotter and helicopter crews could
see the top of his helmet as he ran through the vegetation. They witnessed him disappear in thick
vegetation.
Six helicopters began saturating the area with fire retardant and water, eventually cooling the area so
firefighters could enter the last location where the victim had been seen. They located him
approximately 30 minutes after the mayday.
He was found in a deep gulch and had not deployed his shelter. He was wearing all proper protective
clothing. The 8-year veteran succumbed to thermal burns and smoke inhalation.

Struck by Hose
A fire ignited in a bedroom of a wood-frame single-family home. A 29-year-old firefighter responded to
the scene in his personally-owned vehicle.
He exited his vehicle and instead of grabbing supply hose, he grabbed a 3-inch pre-connected hose line
off an engine at the scene and wrapped it around a fire hydrant. He then went over to his car parked
several feet away and began donning his protective clothing. As he was getting dressed, the fire engine
pulled away from the hydrant and pre-connected hose line untangled from the hydrant and the nozzle
from the 3-inch pre-connected hose line struck him in the head.
The 12-year veteran was transported to the hospital with traumatic head injuries. He succumbed to his
injuries several days later.

Burns
Late in the evening on a warm, windy night, a local fire department responded to a reported fire in a
shopping complex. Upon their arrival, firefighters observed a large amount smoke emanating from the
roof of the large strip mall and incident command was established. The incident commander
immediately requested a second alarm due to potential fire spread.
The first engine and ladder companies forced entry through the front doors of a gym. A hand line was
stretched to the doors and they entered the gym. Crews reported low visibility and were advancing the
hand line while on their knees. Two firefighters from the ladder company were assigned to search the
gym. They began a right-hand search as they passed the firefighter on the nozzle of the hose-line.
Approximately 10 minutes into the fire, another engine company in the rear of the structure reported
flames coming from the roof. A minute later, the firefighters from the ladder company searching the
gym reported to the commander that they had located the fire in the attic area in the gym and they began
pulling down ceiling tiles. The members on the hose line reported a rapid buildup of heat as their
thermal imaging camera showed all white. They opened their line but it had little to no effect on the
rising heat levels.

Firefighter Fatalities in the United States-2017, 6/18 27 NFPA Research, Quincy, MA

The incident commander ordered everyone to evacuate the building 15 minutes into the incident. The
two members from the ladder company performing a search became disoriented and called a mayday.
They transmitted several more times but the messages were unintelligible.
A rapid intervention team (RIT) was deployed under the command of a battalion chief leading the rescue
operations. They located one of the overcome firefighters and removed him nine minutes after the RIT
entered building. He was rushed to the hospital aboard an advanced life support ambulance. He
suffered extensive burns and was admitted to the intensive care burn unit.
A second RIT was sent in to locate the other missing firefighter. Crews were worked tirelessly to
locate him. One firefighter was injured during the rescue efforts. He suffered from smoke inhalation
and exhaustion.
Nearly 45 minutes into the incident and 19 minutes after his partner was rescued, the victim was located
and removed from the building. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The fire department examined all protective clothing and did not find any major defects with their
protective ensembles. The victim was a 31-year-old firefighter with six years’ experience. His cause of
death was listed as conflagration injuries. The manner of death was listed as homicide.
The cause of the fire was determined to be incendiary and arson charges were filed against an owner of
one of the occupancies.

Fall from Aerial

A 29-year-old firefighter suffered critical injuries during training on the upper floors of a local six-story
hotel. Several fire companies were participating in the drill. The victim was a member of a ladder
company.
The training plan was communicated to all members and an operational briefing was held prior to the
start of the evolution. Personnel participating in the drill were wearing complete structural firefighting
protective ensembles, including self-contained breathing apparatus. The operator of the ladder truck
positioned the apparatus in front of the hotel and the aerial ladder was raised to the roof at a 73-degree
angle and extended 86 feet (26 meters). As the aerial was being raised, two firefighters raised a 35-foot
extension ladder to a second-story fire escape balcony. They returned to the apparatus, donned their
SCBA, grabbed the “roof kit” and climbed onto the pedestal.
Three firefighters began to ascend the aerial ladder. Approximately, 55-65 feet up (17-20 meters), the
lead firefighter fell from the aerial ladder, landing on the pedestal of the ladder.
He was treated on scene and transported to a local trauma center. He succumbed to his traumatic
injuries several days later. The department issued a brief report after the incident and had its members
review the inherent dangers of carrying equipment while climbing ladders.

Apparatus Crash
A 54-year-old firefighter suffered traumatic injuries when the mobile water supply vehicle (tanker) she
was driving crashed. The truck left the roadway and tipped over while responding to a structure fire in a
residential occupancy. After tipping over onto its side, the truck struck an embankment. The fully-
loaded tank detached from the truck and crashed into the cab, killing the firefighter.

Firefighter Fatalities in the United States-2017, 6/18 28 NFPA Research, Quincy, MA

Laceration
A 22-year-old inmate firefighter was mortally wounded while cutting a fire line. The crew was working
in steep terrain approximately two miles (three kilometers) from the fire. The cutting teams decided to
leapfrog each other along the fire line. They completed about 70-80 feet (21-24 meters) of fire line
when they came across a rock outcropping with a steep drop off. During the operation, the victim lost
his balance and his momentum carried him off the outcropping and he inadvertently straddled his
chainsaw.
The chainsaw lacerated his upper right thigh just behind his Kevlar chaps, severing his femoral artery.
Nearby firefighters began treatment including a tactical tourniquet. The incident commander requested
an advanced life support ambulance. The firefighter was transported by ground and pronounced dead at
the emergency room.

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