Firefighter Injuries on the Fireground

Richard Campbell and Joseph L. Molis

November 2020

Copyright © 2020 National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®)

Key Findings Volunteer Firefighters
• Volunteer firefighters experienced an annual average of
• US firefighters experienced an average of 25,590 non-fatal injuries
4,700 fireground injuries each year from 2014 through 2018.
on the fireground each year from 2014 through 2018.
• Male firefighters accounted for 93 percent of the fireground injuries
• Injuries involving exposure to a hazard (such as heat, smoke, or toxic
experienced by volunteer firefighters.
agents) and overexertion or strain are the most common injuries
experienced by firefighters on the fireground. • Two in five volunteer firefighter injuries on the fireground
(39 percent) required treatment by a physician but did not result in
• Three in ten fireground injuries (30 percent) resulted in lost work
lost work time
time, while just under two in five injuries (37 percent) were report
only and did not result in lost work time. Another one-fifth of the • The most common injury symptoms experienced by volunteer
injuries (19 percent) required treatment by a physician, but no lost firefighters included sprains or strains (15 percent), exhaustion or
time, while 13 percent were classified as first aid only. fatigue (10 percent), cuts or lacerations (9 percent), thermal burns
(9 percent), pain only (8 percent), and smoke inhalation (6 percent).
• Two in five fireground injuries (40 percent) occurred outside at
grade level, with a somewhat smaller share of injuries occurring • Approximately one-half of the volunteer fireground injuries occurred
while firefighters were inside a structure (37 percent). outside at grade (49 percent), with just over one-quarter of the
injuries occurring inside a structure.
Career Firefighters
• Career firefighters experienced an average of 20,890 fireground
injuries each year from 2014 through 2018.
• Male firefighters accounted for 97 percent of the fireground injuries
experienced by career firefighters.
• Career firefighter injuries were evenly divided between those
occurring in a structure or outside at grade, each accounting for
39 percent of the total fireground injuries.
• Two-fifths (41 percent) of career firefighter injuries on the
fireground were classified as report only and three in ten (30 percent)
were lost time injuries of moderate severity.
• The leading primary symptoms of fireground injuries among career
firefighters were strains or sprains (29 percent), smoke inhalation
(14 percent), pain only (13 percent), thermal burns (8 percent), and
cuts or lacerations (5 percent).

NFPA Research • pg. 1

Introduction The report is divided into two sections. The first section consists of data
and analysis of fireground injuries for all municipal firefighters, career
Firefighters are routinely exposed to an array of safety and health and volunteer. This section is most useful for audiences interested in the
hazards at the scene of a fire. In addition to working in the presence of general injury experience of firefighters on the fireground. The second
fire or explosive materials, firefighters must contend with weather- section reviews the same data elements, but the results are disaggregated
related temperature extremes, physical demands involving awkward by career and volunteer firefighter affiliation for users who may be
postures or heavy loads, work environments that include slippery interested in the injury experience of the different affiliations.
surfaces or the presence of sharp objects, exposure to chemical and
biological agents, potential lack of adequate oxygen, fall hazards and In the tables and figures, firefighter injuries are rounded to the nearest
falling objects, and any number of additional health and safety threats. ten. Note that data presented in the body of the report represent only
results for major response categories. More detailed information is
Information about firefighter injuries — how and where they occur, available in the accompanying tables.
activity at the time of injury, and other relevant information — is critical
for identifying risk factors, developing prevention programs, and guiding The information in this report focuses on non-fatal injuries occurring on
resource decisions, as well as informing other areas of intervention. the fireground which is available through the National Fire Incident
Reporting System. NFPA also publishes two reports that examine aspects
This report reviews injuries experienced by US firefighters on the of firefighter injuries not covered here: Firefighter Fatalities in the
fireground for the five-year period from 2014 through 2018. The data are United States 1 and Firefighter Injuries in the United States. 2 The latter
derived from the US Fire Administration’s National Fire Incident
provides the latest estimates of all firefighter injuries, including injuries
Reporting System (NFIRS) in conjunction with the annual fire
occurring off the fireground, as well as documented exposures to
experience survey administered by the National Fire Protection
infectious disease.
Association. The use of NFIRS data allows for a more detailed
examination of the factors relating to injury incidents than data produced
by the more limited NFPA survey alone. The data in this report are
estimates of firefighter injuries from fires reported to US municipal fire
departments and so exclude firefighter injuries reported only to state or
federal agencies or industrial fire brigades.

1 Fahy, Rita F, et al. Firefighter Fatalities in the United States — 2019. Quincy, MA: National Fire Protection Association, 2019.
2 Campbell, R., et al. Firefighter Injuries in the United States in 2018. Quincy, MA: National Fire Protection Association, 2019.

NFPA Research • pg. 2

Part 1. Patterns of Firefighter Injuries on the Age and Gender
Fireground The vast majority of fireground injuries were experienced by males, with
females accounting for only 4 percent of the injuries. According to
NFPA estimates that firefighters sustained a total of 127,950 injuries on
NFPA’s most recent US Fire Department Profile, women accounted for
the fireground during the five-year period from 2014 to 2018, an average
8 percent of the firefighter workforce in 2018, suggesting that female
of 25,590 non-fatal injuries each year.
firefighters may have experienced a disproportionately lower share of
While substantial, the injuries over the latest five-year period represent a injuries relative to males. Part 2 of the report shows that the disparity is
substantial decrease from the estimated total of 156,630 injuries less apparent among volunteer firefighters. Additional research is needed
experienced from 2009 through 2013, an average of 31,330 injuries each to confirm differences in the injury burden between male and female
year. firefighters.
Figure 1 provides a visual representation of the fireground injury trend Fireground injuries by age are shown in Figure 2. As the figure indicates,
from 2009 through 2018. The figure shows a clear downward trend, with those in the 40 to 49 age group (31 percent) and 30 to 39 age group (30
a sizeable increase in 2015 representing the most significant interruption percent) accounted for the highest shares of injuries. The 20 to 29 age
of the decline. group (18 percent) and 50 to 59 age group (17 percent) accounted for the
Estimates of the annual number of fireground injuries dating to 2005 can majority of the remaining fireground injuries.
be found in Table 1. It should be noted that the encouraging decline in Figure 2. Fireground Injuries by Victim’s Age, 2014–2018
firefighter injuries continues a trend that has been consistently
documented in earlier NFPA reports on fireground injuries. The 35%
31%
estimated total of 22,970 injuries in 2018 represents the lowest 30%
30%
fireground injury count over this period.
Figure 1. Fireground Injuries by Year, 2009–2018 25%
40,000
20% 18%
17%
32,680
32,200 31,490 15%
30,000 29,760 29,130
30,500
10%
24,500
27,020
24,330 5%
22,970 1% 2%
20,000
0%
Less than 20 to 29 30 to 39 40 to 49 50 to 59 60 to 69
20 years years years years years years
10,000 NFPA Research • pg. 3
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Leading Causes of Injury Injuries by Type of Fire Incident
Figure 3 shows the leading causes of fireground injuries. As indicated, Firefighters respond to different types of fire incidents. The vast majority
the two leading causes of injury, exposure to hazards and overexertion or of fireground injuries (84 percent) occurred at structure fires. Much
strain, together account for over half of the injuries (51 percent). Injuries smaller shares of injuries occurred at vehicle fires, natural vegetation
involving overexertion or strain consistently rank among the most fires, outside rubbish or unclassified fires, or fires in mobile properties
common injuries experienced by firefighters (volunteer and career) on used as fixed structures, as shown in Figure 4.
the fireground. Exposure to hazards includes exposure to fire products,
Figure 4. Fireground Injuries by Type of Incident, 2014–2018
such as heat or smoke. Firefighters were also injured on the fireground
due to slips or trips, coming into contact with objects, falls, and being 90% 84%
struck or assaulted by a person, animal, or moving object. 80%
Figure 3. Fireground Injuries by Cause, 2014–2018 70%
60%
50%
Exposure to hazard 26%
40%
30%
Overexertion/strain 25% 20%
10% 5% 5% 4% 2%
0%
Slip or trip 13% Structure fire Vehicle fire Natural Outside Fire in mobile
vegetation fire rubbish or prop. used as
unclassified fixed structure
Contact with object 11% fire

Severity of Injury
Fall 10% Injuries by severity are shown in Figure 5. Nearly two in five injuries
were classified as report only. Injuries resulting in lost work time
Struck, assaulted
6% accounted for three in ten injuries, most of which were injuries of
by
moderate severity. Another one-fifth of the injuries (19 percent) required
treatment by a physician without a loss of work time. It should be noted
Unclassified cause 8%
that the report only injuries included exposure to toxic substances or other
harmful agents and that any health effects from such exposures might only
0% 10% 20% 30%
be realized after repeated exposure or a prolonged latency period.

NFPA Research • pg. 4

 Figure 5. Fireground Injuries by Severity of Injury, 2014–2018 Figure 6. Fireground Injuries by Injury Location, 2014–2018

40% 37% Outside at grade 40%

28% In structure, except attic 37%

30%

19% Unspecified location 9%

20%
13% In attic or other confined structural
3%
space
10%
2% On roof 3%
0%
Report only, Moderately Treated by First aid only Severe lost On steep grade 2%
including severe lost physician, not time injury
exposure time injury a lost-time
injury On ground ladder 2%

Injury Location Other known location 4%

Almost four in five fireground injuries occurred either outside at grade

level (40 percent) or while firefighters were inside a structure except in Activity When Injured
an attic (37 percent), as shown in Figure 6. A smaller share of injuries The specific activity most often associated with fireground injuries was
occurred while firefighters were on a roof, on a steep grade, or on a handling charged hose lines, which accounted for just over one in five
ground ladder. injuries. Unclassified extinguishment incidents accounted for
Injury locations do not by themselves provide any indication of the approximately one-quarter of the injuries, while another one-tenth of the
relative chance of injury in specific locations, as these also reflect the injuries occurred during overhaul (9 percent). Figure 7 shows the tasks
number of firefighters or the amount of time spent in one location versus that were being performed by firefighters at the time of injury.
another. Hence, the higher share of injuries occurring outside may reflect Additional research into how firefighters are injured while handling
a greater number of firefighters or greater person hours in outside charged hose lines, engaging in overhaul, or using hand tools could be
locations. They do, nevertheless, indicate that firefighters are exposed to used in training programs, contribute to ergonomic design improvements
hazards inside and outside structures on the fireground. in equipment, and inform purchasing decisions.

NFPA Research • pg. 5

 Figure 7. Fireground Injuries by Activity, 2014–2018 Figure 8. Fireground Injuries by Primary Symptom, 2014–2018

Strain or sprain 27%

Unclassified extinguishing fire or
26%
neutralizing incident Pain only 12%

Handling charged hose lines 22% Smoke inhalation 11%

Thermal burns 9%
Overhaul 9%
Cut or laceration 6%
Other incident scene activity 8%
Exhaustion,fatigue* 5%

Unclassified suppression support 7% Contusion or bruise 4%

Using hand tools in Swelling 2%

6%
extinguishment activity
Dizziness, fainting or weakness 2%
EMS or rescue 4%
Breathing difficulty ** 2%

Access or egress 3% Fracture 2%

Operating fire department Cardiac symptoms 2%

3%
apparatus
Penetrating stab, puncture wound 2%
Other known activity 12%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
*Includes heat exhaustion
Primary Symptom of Injury **Includes shortness of breath

Sprains or strains were the most common injury symptom experienced

by firefighters, accounting for more than one-quarter of the fireground
injuries. The prevalence of sprain or strain injuries is consistent with
prior research findings. As shown in Figure 8, firefighters experienced
different forms of physical trauma, such as cuts or lacerations, thermal
burns, smoke inhalation, contusions or bruises, fractures, and penetrating
stab or puncture wounds. Firefighters also experienced a variety of
symptoms influenced by the physical demands of their work tasks, the
environmental conditions in which they work, and their own personal
conditioning, such as exhaustion or fatigue, dizziness, fainting or
weakness, breathing difficulties, or cardiac symptoms.

NFPA Research • pg. 6

Primary Body Part Injured Factors Contributing to Injuries
Fireground injuries most often involved the extremities, as shown in Injury reports sometimes include limited information on the factors
Table A. Acute trauma may have caused some of these injuries, but they contributing to fireground injuries. As shown in Table B, factors relating
also involve parts of the body that may be injured as a result of repetitive to fire development (such as smoke conditions or explosions) contributed
or acute strain. Internal injuries most often involved the trachea and to three in ten injuries, while slippery or uneven surfaces contributed to
lungs. another one-fifth of injuries (20 percent). Collapses of structural
Table A. Fireground Injuries by Body Part, 2014–2018
elements or falling objects also contributed to a substantial share of the
injuries (10 percent). Holes or being lost, caught, trapped, or confined
Primary Body Part Injured Percent contributed to comparatively small shares of injuries.
Table B. Factors Contributing to Injuries, 2014–2018
Upper extremities 21%
Hand and fingers 14% Injury Factor Percent
Lower extremities 19%
Knee 7% Fire development 30%
Ankle 6% Fire progress, including smoky conditions 24%
Lower leg 3%
Slippery or uneven surfaces 20%
Foot and toes 3%
Uneven surface, including holes in the ground 6%
Head 15% Icy surface 5%
Eye 3% Loose material on surface 2%
Unclassified head 8%
Wet surface 2%
Multiple parts 11%
Unclassified slippery or uneven surfaces 4%
Multiple body parts — whole body 9%
Collapse or falling object 10%
Neck and shoulders 10% Falling objects 3%
Shoulder 6% Ceiling collapse 2%
Internal 10% Holes 3%
Trachea and lungs 6% Lost, caught, trapped, or confined 2%
Thorax 7%
Unclassified factor 12%
Chest 4%
None 22%
Back, except spine 3%
Spine 2%

NFPA Research • pg. 7

Injuries by Month Injuries by Time of Day
Fireground injuries were highest in January and July, with 10 percent of Slightly more than two of five fireground injuries occurred in fires that
the injuries occurring in each of these months. February and March each took place between 12 p.m. and 8 p.m., but these were the hours that also
accounted for 9 percent of injuries. Injuries were lowest in September, recorded the largest shares of structure fires, as shown in Figure 10. As
October, and November. the figure indicates, injuries were low relative to fires in the period from
12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Although there were fewer fires between midnight and
Since the incidence of fires by month can vary and thereby influence
8 a.m., injuries were higher relative to the share of fires at these hours.
opportunities for injury on a monthly basis, Figure 9 shows the monthly
Such factors as working in dark environments or sleep disturbance may
distribution of fireground injuries and fire incidents. As the figure
play a role in this injury pattern.
indicates, the monthly share of injuries was highest relative to the
distribution of fires in January and February, potentially reflecting the Figure 10. Fireground Injuries and Fires by Time of Day, 2014–2018
influence of working in cold weather. The monthly share of injuries 30%
otherwise generally matched the distribution of fire incidents by month. 27%
26%
Figure 9. Fireground Injuries and Fires by Month, 2014–2018 25%
12% Fires Injuries 21%
21%
10% 20%
10% 10% 10% Fires Injuries
10% 10% 17%
9% 9% 9% 15% 16%
9% 8% 8% 8% 8%
15% 14% 15%
8% 8% 8% 8% 8%
8% 7% 8%
7% 7% 7% 7% 12%

6% 10% 9%
8%

4% 5%

2% 0%

0%

NFPA Research • pg. 8

Part 2. Fireground Injuries by Firefighter Affiliation Injuries by Gender
It is useful to compare the fireground injury experience of career and The vast majority of fireground injuries are experienced by male
volunteer firefighters, as there are some important differences between firefighters, as indicated in Figure 12. Although the share of injuries
the two groups. Although volunteer firefighters perform the same work experienced by female firefighters is higher for volunteers than for career
as their career counterparts, they are more likely to do all this without firefighters, females also comprise a higher share of the volunteer
some of the resources and benefits available to fire departments in larger firefighter workforce. NFPA estimated in its profile of US fire
communities. In addition, the National Volunteer Fire Council has departments for 2018 that females comprised 4 percent of career
pointed out that many volunteer fire departments don’t require annual or firefighters and 11 percent of volunteers, which would suggest that
biannual fitness testing or health screenings and that the regular jobs of female volunteer firefighters experience a lower share of injuries relative
volunteers may not be physically demanding, potentially leaving them at to their share of the workforce. However, due to low numbers and
a disadvantage for arduous firefighting tasks. statistical uncertainty, caution is needed when interpreting these results.

As Figure 11 shows, the vast majority of fireground injuries were Figure 12. Fireground Injuries by Affiliation and Gender, 2014–2018
experienced by career firefighters (82 percent), with volunteer 100% 97%
93%
firefighters experiencing just under one-fifth of the fireground injuries
90%
each year. For a number of reasons, it is difficult to draw conclusions
80%
about the respective distribution of fireground injuries between volunteer
and career firefighters. Although volunteer firefighters comprise nearly 70%
70 percent of the US fire service, they perform their duties on a part-time 60%
basis, limiting their exposure relative to their career counterparts. It 50%
should also be noted that firefighters have been found to underreport
40%
injuries, but it is not clear whether underreporting differs between Female Male
volunteer and career firefighters and any respective impact on reported 30%

injury totals. 20%

7%
Figure 11. Fireground Injuries by Affiliation, 2014–2018 10% 3%
0%
Volunteer Career
18%

82%
NFPA Research • pg. 9
Volunteer
Career
Injuries by Age Injuries by Cause
Fireground injuries by affiliation and age are shown in Figure 13. As the The leading cause of injury for career firefighters was exposure to
figure indicates, more than two out of five volunteer injuries were hazards, which accounted for approximately three in ten injuries
experienced by those in the two youngest age groups, with over one-third (29 percent), followed by overexertion or strain (25 percent). An
of injured volunteers being 20 to 29 years old (35 percent) and 7 percent additional one-third of the career firefighter injuries were collectively
being less than 20 years old. Career firefighter injuries were most often caused by slips or trips (13 percent), contact with objects (11 percent),
experienced by those aged 30 to 39 years (30 percent) or 40 to 49 years and falls (10 percent). As Figure 14 shows, the leading causes of
(33 percent). Only 1 percent of career firefighter injury victims were volunteer injuries were generally similar to those of career firefighters,
aged 60 or older, while 6 percent of the injured volunteers were in this with the exception of a smaller share of injuries being due to exposure to
age group. One explanation for the larger share of volunteer injuries in hazards (20 percent).
the youngest age groups may be the influence of limited experience
Figure 14. Fireground Injuries by Affiliation and Cause of Injury, 2014–2018
among part-time firefighters. Career firefighters, because they are full-
time, accumulate hands-on experience much more quickly than Exposure to 20%
volunteers. The low number of injuries among career firefighters in the hazard 29%
older age groups almost certainly reflects the general absence of career
Overexertion, 26%
firefighters aged 60 or over. strain 25%
Figure 13. Fireground Injuries by Affiliation and Age, 2014–2018
12%
40% Slip or trip 13%
35%
33%
13%
30% Contact w. object 11%
30%
Volunteer Career
11%
Fall 10%
21%
20% 18% Volunteer
16% Struck, assaulted 9%
14% by 6% Career
12%
10%
10% 7% Unclassified cause 7%
5%

1% 1% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

0% 0%
0%
Less than 20 to 29 30 to 39 40 to 49 50 to 59 60 to 69 70 years
20 years years years years years years and older

NFPA Research • pg. 10

Injuries by Type of Fire Incident Figure 16. Fireground Injuries by Affiliation and Severity of Injury,
2014–2018
As shown in Figure 15, the vast majority of fireground injuries occurred at
45%
structure fires for both volunteer and career firefighters. Similar shares of 41%
39%
injuries also occurred at vehicle fires for volunteer and career firefighters. 40%

Natural vegetation fires accounted for a larger share of volunteer injuries 35%
30%
than was the case for career firefighters, in all likelihood reflecting the 30%
predominance of volunteer firefighters in more rural areas. 25% 23%

Figure 15. Fireground Injuries by Affiliation and Type of Incident, 20% 18% 17% Volunteer Career
15%
2014–2018 15% 11%
90% 82% 84% 10%
80% 5% 2% 1% 1% 0%
70%
0%
60%
Report only, Moderately Treated by First aid Severe lost Lost time
50% including severe, lost physician, only time injury injury, life
40% exposure time not a lost- threatening
Volunteer Career
30% time injury
20%
8%
10% 4% 5% 4% 2% 4% 3% 1%
0%
Injury Location
Structure fire Vehicle fire Natural Outside Mobile prop.
vegetation fire rubbish or used as fixed
Figure 17 shows that almost four in five of the career firefighter injuries
unclassified structure occurred outside at grade level (39 percent) or inside a structure other
fire than an attic (39 percent). Nearly half of the volunteer firefighter injuries
Severity of Injury occurred while outside at grade level, while more than one-quarter
Injuries by severity are shown in Figure 16. As indicated, career occurred inside a structure somewhere other than an attic. A possible
firefighters were much more likely than volunteer firefighters to explanation for the differences in injury location is that volunteer
experience fireground injuries that were report only or moderately firefighters may be more likely to fight fires from the exterior due to
severe, while volunteer firefighters were more likely to experience longer response times in rural locations or delays in having sufficient
injuries that either required treatment by a physician without lost work crew members on-scene to observe two-in, two-out policies. Injuries
time or were first aid only. There were few severe lost-time injuries in occurring on a roof, in an attic or other confined structural space, or on a
either group. One percent of the volunteer injuries and fewer than ground ladder accounted for small shares of the fireground injuries.
1 percent of the career firefighter injuries were classified as life-
threatening.

NFPA Research • pg. 11

 Figure 17. Fireground Injuries by Affiliation and Injury Location, volunteer and career firefighter injuries include suppression support,
2014–2018 using hand tools in extinguishment, moving or picking up hand tools,
60% using equipment or hose on scene, operating apparatus, EMS or rescue,
49%
access or egress, or driving or riding in vehicles.
50%
Figure 18. Fireground Injuries by Affiliation and Activity, 2014–2018
39% 39%
40%
Unclassified extinguishing, 16%
30% 27% 29%
neutralizing incident
Volunteer Career
20% Handling charged hose lines 28%
20%
11%
9% 11%
10% 6% 6%
Overhaul
2% 3% 2% 3% 3% 2% 8%
0%
7%
Outside at In structure, On roof In attic, On ground Other Unspecified Unclassified suppression support
grade excl. attic, confined ladder known location 7%
roof, wall structural location
space
Using hand tools in extinguishment 7%
activity 6%

Moving, picking up tools, equip, 5%

Activity When Injured hose on scene 4%
Volunteer
Firefighters were most often handling charged hose lines at the time of 4%
Operating fire dept apparatus 3%
injury, though this was more prevalent among volunteers than career Career
firefighters (see Figure 18). One explanation for this could be that EMS or rescue
3%
4%
volunteers are more likely to be operating outside and are moving
charged, heavy hose lines, which can increase their risk of injury. Career 3%
Access or egress 3%
firefighters operating inside are more likely to stretch hoses before they
3%
are charged, reducing the weight burden until the hose becomes charged Driving or riding vehicle 2%
closer to the fire.
0% 10% 20% 30% 40%
Almost three in ten career firefighter injuries occurred during
unclassified extinguishing or neutralizing activities, compared to fewer
than one in five for volunteers. Just over one in ten volunteer injuries
occurred during overhaul activities, slightly more than career firefighters
(8 percent). Other leading activities accounting for similar shares of

NFPA Research • pg. 12

Primary Symptom Table C. Fireground Injuries by Affiliation and Primary Symptom, 2014–2018

Table C shows that almost three in ten career firefighter injuries on the Primary Symptom of Injury Volunteer Career
fireground were strain or sprain injuries, with smoke inhalation, pain-
Strain or sprain (15%) (29%)
only injuries, and thermal burns also acting as leading primary symptoms
of injury. Cuts or lacerations, contusions or bruises, and exhaustion or Smoke inhalation (6%) (14%)
fatigue accounted for smaller shares of primary injury symptoms among Pain-only (8%) (13%)
career firefighters.
Thermal burns (9%) (8%)
Strains and sprains were also the primary injury symptom of volunteer Cut or laceration (9%) (5%)
firefighter injuries, followed by exhaustion or fatigue, cuts or lacerations,
Contusion or bruise, minor trauma (5%) (4%)
thermal burns, and pain-only symptoms. Dizziness, fainting, or weakness
Exhaustion, fatigue (including heat
and breathing difficulties were more prevalent symptoms among exhaustion) (10%) (4%)
volunteer than career firefighters.
Dizziness, fainting, or weakness (5%) (2%)
Volunteer firefighters were substantially less likely to sustain smoke
Breathing difficulty, shortness of breath (4%) (1%)
inhalation injuries than career firefighters, potentially reflecting the
greater likelihood of volunteers to engage with a fire from outside a Primary Body Part
structure. In addition, a higher prevalence of exhaustion and fatigue
injuries among volunteer firefighters may reflect fewer opportunities to Nearly two in five injuries among career and volunteer firefighters
participate in physical fitness programs, as well as reduced access to involved either the lower or upper extremities, as indicated in Table D.
nutrition and wellness programs. Internal injuries were more prevalent among career firefighters than
volunteers. Head injuries accounted for slightly more than one in ten
The disparity of strain and sprain injuries between career and volunteer career firefighter injuries and 15 percent of volunteer injuries. Injuries to
firefighters may merit further investigation. the neck and shoulders accounted for one in ten volunteer injuries and 13
percent of career injuries.

NFPA Research • pg. 13

 Table D. Fireground Injuries by Affiliation and Primary Body Part, Figure 19. Fireground Injuries by Affiliation and Injury Factor,
2014–2018 2014–2018

Primary Body Part Volunteer Career 30% 27%

Lower extremities (19%) (20%) 25%

Upper extremities (21%) (17%) 20%
20% 18%
Internal (10%) (17%)
Head (15%) (11%) 15% 14% 14%
Volunteer Career
Neck and shoulders (10%) (13%) 9%
10%
Thorax (7%) (7%)
5% 4%
Multiple parts (11%) (7%) 3% 3% 3%
1% 2% 2%
1%
Spine (2%) (4%) 0%
Abdominal area (3%) (3%) Fire Unclassif Slippery, Collapse, Holes Lost, Vehicle,
progress, fire uneven falling caught, apparatus
incl. develop surfaces object trapped,
Injury Factor smoky confined
conditions
The leading factors contributing to injuries were fire progress, slippery or
uneven surfaces, and collapse or falling objects (see Figure 19). Smaller Injuries by Month
shares of injuries involved holes, vehicles or apparatus, or firefighters
Fireground injuries were highest in the cold weather months of January,
being lost, caught, trapped, or confined.
February, and March and hot weather months of July and August for
Fire progress contributed to nearly three in ten career firefighter injuries firefighters of both affiliations, as shown in Figure 20. Because volunteer
(27 percent), nearly double that of volunteer injuries (14 percent). This firefighters have less access to physical conditioning programs, the larger
difference may again reflect a greater likelihood for volunteer firefighters share of volunteer injuries in July relative to career firefighters may
to engage in exterior firefighting, either due to crew limitations or reflect comparative deficits in physical fitness and the influence of hot
because fires are more fully developed upon arrival due to slower weather. In general, the monthly distribution of injuries showed greater
response times. variation for volunteer firefighters.
Volunteer firefighter injuries were somewhat more likely to involve a
collapse or falling object (14 percent) compared to career firefighter
injuries (9 percent), but contributing factors were otherwise similar
regardless of affiliation.

NFPA Research • pg. 14

 Figure 20. Fireground Injuries by Affiliation and Month of Injury, Figure 21. Fireground Injuries by Affiliation and Time of Injury,
2014–2018 2014–2018

14% 25% 23%

23%
Volunteer Career 21% 20%
12% 11% 11% 20% 18%
10% Volunteer Career
10% 10% 16% 15% 16%
10% 9%
9%
9% 8% 8% 9% 15% 13%
8% 8% 12% 12%
8% 8% 8% 8%
8% 7% 7% 7% 10%
7% 7% 10%
6% 6%
6%
5%
4%
0%
2%

0%

Injuries by Day of Week

Injuries by Time of Day
As shown in Figure 22, fireground injuries for career firefighters were
Fireground injuries for career and volunteer firefighters were highest fairly evenly distributed across the days of the week, varying only
between the hours of 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. and lowest between midnight between 14 percent to 15 percent. The share of volunteer firefighters by
and 8 a.m. The share of volunteer injuries (46 percent) was somewhat day of injury varied between 13 percent and 14 percent during the week
higher than for career fighters in the 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. period (41 and rose to 17 percent on Saturdays and Sundays, likely reflecting the
percent), while career firefighter injuries were higher than those of greater availability of volunteer firefighters to respond to calls on the
volunteers between midnight and 12 p.m. (see Figure 21). Additional weekend.
research is needed to confirm differences in time of injury between
affiliations.

NFPA Research • pg. 15

 Figure 22. Fireground Injuries by Affiliation and Day of Injury, firefighters, a finding which underscores the importance of structured
2014–2018 fitness programs, particularly for volunteers who don’t work in physically
20% demanding jobs. Research also suggests that programs to enhance core
17% 17% strength and functional movement performance as a means to reduce
15% 14% 14% 15% injuries due to awkward postures and greater attention to nutrition and
15% 14% 14%
13% 14% 13% 13% 13% 14% fitness can help reduce musculoskeletal injuries. Training and education
on safe lifting techniques and the use of ergonomically designed
10% equipment can be used as additional injury reduction interventions.
This research indicates that in addition to sprain and strain or exhaustion-
5% related injuries, volunteer firefighters also experienced an array of
traumatic injuries, including cuts and lacerations, burns, smoke inhalation,
bruises, and fractures. Although the fireground is an inherently hazardous
0%
Sun Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat environment, good health and safety practices can reduce the risk of injury,
beginning at the pre-incident phase with the development of safety-related
Volunteer Career
standard operating procedures and training programs for all firefighter
activities. Because personal protective equipment is an essential safeguard
Discussion
against firefighter injury, pre-incident safety preparations must also ensure
Firefighters are regularly at risk of injury due to work activities that that personal protective equipment is properly maintained and meets the
involve exposure to fire and explosion hazards, carrying heavy prevailing equipment codes.
equipment or victims, contending with hot or cold weather conditions,
At the incident scene, it is critical to follow standard operating
working on slippery or uneven surfaces, assuming awkward body
procedures before undertaking interior firefighting. This includes 360-
postures, and contending with multiple other hazards.
degree size-up, determination of whether the situation justifies entry,
Sprain or strain and overexertion injuries have been identified as identifying points of egress, and ensuring the use of personal protective
prevalent forms of firefighter injury in other research. Factors that equipment. The assignment of trained safety officers to the fire scene can
contribute to these injuries include repetitive motion, inadequate fitness, help ensure the identification of hazards and curtail any inclinations of
and activities that compromise trunk stability. crew members to assume unnecessary risks by engaging in a quick
While any number of routine firefighter tasks will pose limits for injury response. In addition, the occurrence of a substantial share of injuries
intervention efforts, research has nevertheless identified potential during overhaul indicates that hazards are not restricted to
opportunities for reducing the risk of sprain, strain, and overexertion extinguishment activities and that appropriate safety practices are needed
injuries. For instance, better aerobic fitness has been found to be throughout the response.
associated with a lower risk of sprain and strain injuries among

NFPA Research • pg. 16

Select US Firefighter Injuries on the Fireground, Ceiling Collapse
2014–2018 Firefighters responding to a structure fire encountered fire heavy fire in
the front stairwell and on the front porches of all three floors of a vacant
Fall Through Ceiling
multifamily residence. The first arriving engine company requested
A company officer fractured his leg while checking for fire extension in additional resources. The building was heavily secured, with screwed-in
an exposed building while operating at a brush fire. The brush fire was plywood covering all the doors and windows in the structure.
unintentionally ignited by a caretaker using a propane-fueled weed
While companies removed plywood from the doors and windows, crews
burner. The fire spread into a large brush pile and then extended to a
used a handline and tower ladder master streams to knock down the fire
church.
in the loft area. Approximately 15 minutes later, crews entered the
Bystanders used several garden hoses to extinguish approximately 90 structure to completely extinguish hidden fire in the voids.
percent of the fire by the time the fire department arrived. But the
Approximately 12 firefighters were in the front-left quadrant of the third
remaining fire was against the church. The officer of the engine company
floor in a bedroom adjacent to the front stairwell operating a hose stream
requested assistance for a building fire, as there was some minor damage
and performing overhaul when a section of the ceiling collapsed.
and slight smoke condition near the eaves. Firefighters raised a ground
ladder to the eave line and pulled off the fascia board to check for Eight of the firefighters were struck by the large heavy ceiling, burying
extension. After visually checking for extension and utilizing a thermal three of them under the heavy, water-soaked collapsed debris. The
imaging camera, they concluded there was no fire extension, but ceiling was comprised of plastered sheetrock, a second layer of plaster
mechanical ventilation was needed for the smoke in the attic. and wire lathes, and furring strips of blown-in insulation.

A crew with an officer and two firefighters located access to the attic and The sector officer issued a mayday call and a rapid intervention team was
the three entered the space to place a ventilation fan. Seven minutes later, deployed. Several firefighters in the immediate vicinity helped extricate
a mayday was called by one of the firefighters in the attic. The officer the buried firefighters.
fell through a ceiling, landing in the baptismal font below. All eight firefighters were transported to the emergency room, treated for
The 52-year-old captain fractured his leg in the fall and has not been their injuries, and released.
cleared to resume firefighting activities. ***
***

NFPA Research • pg. 17

Fall from Ladder a step backward while trying to stand and fell down the steep stairs
headfirst, landing on his SCBA cylinder.
Firefighters responding to a fire at an auto body repair shop arrived to
find multiple vehicles on fire inside one of the seven garage bays. The His partner and firefighters from the engine company at the bottom of the
fire was rapidly extending to the adjacent bays and through the roof. stairs assisted him to the backyard where he was treated by an advanced
life support ambulance.
During suppression efforts, a firefighter using a handline on a ground
ladder fell approximately 20 feet (6.1 meters) to the ground after losing The 46-year-old captain suffered a concussion and multiple muscle
control of the nozzle. A rapid intervention team staffed with three sprains in his neck and upper back, as well as a sprained knee. He
firefighters quickly deployed and removed the victim from the front of returned to light duty a month after the fire.
the burning structure.
***
The 41-year-old firefighter was wearing a complete protective ensemble
Structural Collapse
when he fell from the ladder and suffered contusions, sprains, and minor
trauma. He was able to return to firefighting activities several weeks after On a windy and wet afternoon, the fire department received calls reporting
the incident. a fire at a gas station with a convenience store and fast-food restaurant. On
arrival, crews found a large body of fire consuming the building.
***
Firefighters immediately deployed a ground-level master stream and also
Fall Down Stairs
deployed a handline to the front of the building. The roof of the structure
Firefighters responding to reports of a building fire with possible collapsed several minutes after arrival as the engine company was
entrapment arrived to find venting from windows on the second floor of establishing the water supply.
a two-family home. Crews were informed by a police officer and family
Soon after the roof collapse, a firefighter attacking the fire through the
member that an elderly occupant was possibly still on the second floor.
front windows was struck and trapped by a falling sheet metal façade.
An engine company stretched a hose line up the front stairs while the The collapse of nearly the entire front façade buried the firefighter under
ladder company began roof operations and two members of the heavy the debris. Another firefighter immediately trained his hose stream onto
rescue followed the engine company to assist with forcible entry and to the burning material engulfing the victim as firefighters and bystanders
search the fire floor. sought to pull the firefighter free.
The captain and a firefighter ascended the rear stairs and met up with the The firefighter was pulled to safety after rescuers were able to lift some
engine company in a narrow hallway in zero visibility and high heat. of the material off him. He was treated by the crew of an on-scene
ambulance and transported to the hospital with first- and second-degree
As the engine company worked its way into the apartment, the captain
burns to his arms and legs. He was wearing a full protective ensemble,
tried to move by in order to search the apartment. The captain ordered
including SCBA.
his partner to stand at the bottom of the stairs to ensure that another
handline was not brought up until the first line could get into the ***
apartment. Not realizing how close he was to the stairs, the captain took

NFPA Research • pg. 18

Second Degree Burns in Home Fire Acknowledgments
Firefighters responding to a late afternoon fire arrived to find fire venting The National Fire Protection Association thanks all the fire
from several bedroom windows in a single-family home. departments and state fire authorities who participate in the National
The chief was first to arrive and was informed that everyone was out of Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and the annual NFPA fire
the house. Crews from an engine company initiated an aggressive experience survey. These firefighters are the original sources of the
interior attack by advancing a hose line through the attached garage into detailed data that make this analysis possible. Their contributions
the living room. Once they were near the kitchen, they charged their hose allow us to estimate the size of the fire problem.
line and began advancing down the hallway. We are also grateful to the US Fire Administration for its work in
With a 27-year-old firefighter leading the hose line down the dark developing, coordinating, and maintaining NFIRS.
hallway, the engine company could see that the bedroom had already To learn more about research at NFPA visit nfpa.org/research
flashed over and flames were beginning to roll over their heads.
E-mail: research@nfpa.org
While applying water onto the flames and darkening the fire down, the
NFPA No. USS02
nozzle firefighter reported to an engine company officer that he thought
he had been burned. Shortly afterward, the two abandoned their handline
and exited the building after crews arrived with an additional handline to
help knock down the main body of the fire.
The nozzle firefighter suffered second-degree burns to his ears and neck.
The chief requested an ambulance and the burned firefighter was
transported to the closest emergency room.
The injured firefighter was treated at the burn clinic and returned to
firefighting activities nearly two months after the incident.

NFPA Research • pg. 19

 Table 1. Firefighter Fireground Injuries by Year, 2005–2018

Year Number of Injuries

2005 41,950
2006 44,210
2007 38,340
2008 36,590
2009 32,200
2010 32,680
2011 30,500
2012 31,490
2013 29,760
2014 27,020
2015 29,130
2016 24,330
2017 24,500
2018 22,970

Note: These are national estimates of firefighter injuries reported to US municipal fire departments and so
exclude firefighter injuries reported only to federal or state agencies or industrial fire brigades. National
estimates of total fireground injuries are made based on data reported by fire departments to NFPA in its
annual fire experience survey. Detailed firefighter casualty information is based on data reported by fire
departments participating in NFIRS 5.0. Fireground injuries are rounded to the nearest ten.

Source: NFIRS and NFPA fire experience survey.

NFPA Research • pg. 20

 Table 2. Firefighter Fireground Injuries by Gender, 2014–2018 Table 3. Firefighter Fireground Injuries by Victim’s Age, 2014–2018

Gender Firefighter Injuries Age Firefighter Injuries

Male 24,590 (96%) Less than 20 years 360 (1%)

Female 1,000 (4%) 20 to 29 years 4,650 (18%)
30 to 39 years 7,620 (30%)
Total 25,590 (100%) 40 to 49 years 7,950 (31%)
50 to 59 years 4,380 (17%)
60 to 69 years 560 (2%)
Note: These are national estimates of firefighter injuries reported to US
municipal fire departments and so exclude firefighter injuries reported only to 70 years and older 60 (0%)
federal or state agencies or industrial fire brigades. National estimates of total
fireground injuries are made based on data reported by fire departments to Total 25,590 (100%)
NFPA in its annual fire experience survey. Detailed firefighter casualty
information is based on data reported by fire departments participating in NFIRS
5.0. Fireground injuries are rounded to the nearest ten. Totals may not equal sums because of rounding.

Totals might not equal sums because of rounding. Source: NFIRS and NFPA fire experience survey.

Source: NFIRS and NFPA fire experience survey.

NFPA Research • pg. 21

How National Estimates Statistics Are Calculated experience on a larger scale. Surveys are sent to all the municipal
departments protecting populations of 5,000 or more and a
The statistics in this analysis are estimates derived from the US random sample, stratified by community size, of the smaller
Fire Administration’s (USFA’s) National Fire Incident Reporting departments. Typically, a total of roughly 3,000 surveys are
System (NFIRS) and the National Fire Protection Association’s returned, representing about one of every ten US municipal fire
(NFPA’s) annual survey of US fire departments. NFIRS is a departments and about one-third of the US population.
voluntary system through which participating fire departments
can report detailed factors about the fires to which they respond. The survey is stratified by the size of the population protected by
Roughly two-thirds of US fire departments participate, although a fire department to reduce the uncertainty of the final estimate.
not all of these departments provide data every year. Fires Small rural communities have fewer people protected per
reported to federal or state fire departments or industrial fire department and are less likely to respond to the survey. A larger
brigades are not included in these estimates. number must be surveyed to obtain an adequate sample of those
departments. (NFPA also makes follow-up calls to a sample of
NFIRS provides the most detailed incident information of any the smaller fire departments that do not respond to confirm that
national database not limited to large fires. NFIRS is the only those that did respond are truly representative of fire departments
database capable of addressing national patterns of fires of all sizes of their size.) On the other hand, large city departments are so
by specific property use and specific fire cause. NFIRS also few in number and protect such a large proportion of the total US
captures information on the extent of flame spread and automatic population that it makes sense to survey all of them. Most
detection and suppression equipment. For more information on respond, resulting in excellent precision for the final estimate.
NFIRS, visit https://www.nfirs.fema.gov/.
The survey requests the following information: (1) the total
NFIRS has a wide variety of data elements and code choices. number of fire incidents, civilian deaths, and civilian injuries,
The NFIRS database contains coded information. Many code and the total estimated property damage (in dollars) for each of
choices describe several conditions. These cannot be broken the major property use classes defined in NFIRS; (2) the number
down further. For example, area of origin code 83 captures fires of on-duty firefighter injuries and illnesses, by type of duty and
starting in vehicle engine areas, running gear areas, or wheel nature of illness; 3) the number and nature of non-fire incidents;
areas. However, the coded data cannot designate how much of and (4) information on the type of community protected (e.g.,
each area was involved. county versus township versus city) and the size of the
NFPA’s fire department experience survey provides population protected. The population size is used in the statistical
estimates of the big picture. formula for projecting national totals from sample results. The
results of the survey are published in the annual report Fire Loss
Each year, NFPA conducts an annual survey of fire departments,
in the United States.
which enables us to capture a summary of the fire department

NFPA Research • pg. 22

Projecting NFIRS to National Estimates In this report, unknown data was assumed to have the same
proportional distribution as the known data. The Other category
As noted, NFIRS is a voluntary reporting system. Different
includes cases specifically coded as Other and cases coded in
states and jurisdictions have different reporting requirements and
specific categories with very low frequency. Note that in the
practices. Participation rates in NFIRS are not necessarily
accompanying tables for this report, the number of firefighter
uniform across regions and community sizes, both factors that
injuries has been rounded to the nearest ten and the percentages
correlate with the frequency and severity of fires. This means
have been rounded to the nearest whole percent. Totals in tables
NFIRS could be susceptible to systematic biases. No one at
might not equal sums due to rounding.
present can quantify the size of these deviations from the ideal,
representative sample, so no one can say with confidence that
they are or are not serious problems. But there is enough reason
for concern so that a second source — the NFPA survey — is
needed to project NFIRS to national estimates and to project
different parts of NFIRS separately. This multiple calibration
approach makes use of the annual NFPA survey where its
statistical design advantages are strongest.
Only data originally collected in NFIRS 5.0 is included in the
calculations of the 2014–2018 national estimates for firefighter
injuries in structure fires. The portion of fires and firefighter
injuries originally collected in NFIRS 5.0 compared to the earlier
NFIRS 4.1 version has increased steadily over time. The percent
of fires coded in version 5.0 for the 2014 to 2018 period ranged
from 97 percent to 100 percent.
This update for 2014–2018 includes injuries that occurred at all
fires (incident type 110–171) and at the fireground (where injury
occurred codes 5 and 6), as well as the severity of injuries (1 to
5). Except where otherwise noted, all the tables are based on
fireground injuries that occurred at all fires. The national annual
estimates of firefighter injuries were weighted for the individual
years using total fireground injuries from the annual NFPA fire
experience survey.

NFPA Research • pg. 23