Firefighter Fatalities in the 

United States in 2019 

October 2020

Firefighter Fatalities in 

the United States in 2019

Prepared by

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Federal Emergency Management Agency

U.S. Fire Administration

National Fire Data Center

and

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

firehero.org

In memory of all firefighters

who answered their last call in 2019.

To their families and friends.

For their service and sacrifice.

Mission Statement

We support and strengthen fi re and emergency medical 

services and stakeholders to prepare for, prevent, mitigate 

and respond to all hazards.

Table of Contents i

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments............................................................................................................... 1

Background .......................................................................................................................... 1

Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 3

Who is a firefighter?........................................................................................................... 3

What constitutes an on-duty fatality?............................................................................. 4

Sources of initial notification ........................................................................................... 5

Procedure for including a fatality in the study .............................................................. 5

2019 Findings........................................................................................................................ 6

Career, volunteer and wildland agency fatalities .......................................................... 8

Gender................................................................................................................................. 8

Multiple firefighter fatality incidents .............................................................................. 8

Wildland firefighting fatalities.......................................................................................... 9

Type of Duty ......................................................................................................................... 11

Fireground operations ...................................................................................................... 12

Type of fireground activity ............................................................................................... 12

Fixed property use for structural firefighting fatalities ............................................... 13

Responding/returning....................................................................................................... 13

Training................................................................................................................................ 13

Nonfire emergencies......................................................................................................... 14

Cause of Fatal Injury ........................................................................................................... 15

Stress or overexertion....................................................................................................... 15

Vehicle crashes................................................................................................................... 16

Struck by object ................................................................................................................. 18

Caught or trapped ............................................................................................................. 19

Collapse............................................................................................................................... 20

Fall........................................................................................................................................ 21

Exposure ............................................................................................................................. 21

Other ................................................................................................................................... 21

Assault................................................................................................................................. 22

Contact with ....................................................................................................................... 22

Nature of Fatal Injury.......................................................................................................... 23

Firefighter Ages.................................................................................................................... 25

Deaths by Time of Injury .................................................................................................... 26

Firefighter Fatality Incidents by Month of the Year........................................................ 26

State and Region.................................................................................................................. 27
ii Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2019

On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities Where Incidents Occurred in Previous Years ............. 29

On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities Where Incidents and Deaths Occurred in 

Previous Years ............................................................................................................... 30

Analysis of Urban/Suburban/Rural Patterns in Firefighter Fatalities.......................... 34

Appendix............................................................................................................................... 35

Acronyms.............................................................................................................................. 39
Acknowledgments | Background 1

Acknowledgments

This study of firefighter fatalities would not have been possible without the cooperation 

and assistance of many members of the fire service across the United States. Members 

of individual fire departments; chief fire officers; wildland fire service organizations, such 

as the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, 

the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the U.S. Department 

of Justice; the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA); and many others contributed 

important information for this report.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) was responsible for compilation of a 

large portion of the information used in this report. Their cooperation and work toward 

reducing firefighter deaths is gratefully acknowledged.

The ultimate objective of this report’s effort is to reduce the number of firefighter deaths 

through an increased awareness and understanding of their causes and how they can be 

prevented. Firefighting, rescue and other types of emergency operations are essential 

activities in an inherently dangerous profession, and unfortunate tragedies do occur. 

These are the risks that all firefighters accept every time they respond to an emergency 

incident. However, the risks can be greatly reduced through efforts to improve training, 

emergency scene operations, and firefighter health and safety.

Background

Since 1976, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has tracked the number of firefighter 

fatalities and conducted an annual analysis. Through the collection of information on the 

causes of firefighter deaths, the USFA can focus on specific problems and direct efforts 

toward finding solutions to reduce the number of firefighter fatalities in the future. This 

information is also used to measure the effectiveness of current programs directed 

toward firefighter health and safety. Several programs have been developed by the USFA 

in response to this annual report. For example, the USFA has sponsored significant work in 

the areas of general roadway and emergency vehicle operations safety, health and safety 
2 Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2019

of the female emergency responder, fire service risk management, fire station safety, and 

roadway incident safety. The data developed for this report are also widely used in other 

firefighter fatality prevention efforts.

In addition to performing this analysis, the USFA, working in partnership with the NFFF, 

develops a list of all on-duty firefighter fatalities and associated documentation each 

year. If certain criteria are met, the fallen firefighter’s next of kin, as well as members 

of the individual’s fire department, are invited to the annual National Fallen Firefighters 

Memorial Service. The service is held at the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) 

in Emmitsburg, Maryland, during National Fire Prevention Week in October of each year. 

The 39th Annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend has been postponed 

due to the global pandemic. The NFFF broadcasted a National Tribute to remember these 

fallen heroes on Oct. 4, 2020, and their families were invited to attend a ceremony in 

2021. Additional information can be found at https://www.firehero.org/2020/06/30/2020-

memorial-weekend/ or by calling the NFFF at 301-447-1365.

Other resources and information regarding firefighter fatalities, including current fatality 

notices, the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial database and links to the Public Safety 

Officer Benefits (PSOB) program, can be found at https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/firefighterfatalities/.
Introduction 3

Introduction

This report continues a series of annual studies began in 1986 by the USFA of on-duty 

firefighter fatalities in the U.S.

The specific objective of this study is to identify all on-duty firefighter fatalities 

that occurred in the U.S. and its territories in 2019 and to analyze the circumstances 

surrounding each occurrence. The study is intended to help identify approaches that could 

reduce the number of firefighter deaths in future years.

Who is a firefighter?

For the purpose of this study, the term “firefighter” covers all members of organized fire 

departments with assigned fire suppression duties in all 50 states; the District of Columbia; 

and the territories of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the commonwealth 

of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam. It includes career and volunteer firefighters; 

full-time public safety officers acting as firefighters; fire police; state, Native American 

tribal authorities and federal government fire service personnel; and privately employed 

firefighters, including employees of contract fire departments and trained members of 

industrial fire brigades, whether full time or part time. It also includes contract personnel 

working as firefighters or assigned to work in direct support of fire service organizations 

(e.g., air tanker crews).

Under this definition, the study includes not only local and municipal firefighters, but also 

seasonal and full-time employees of the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, the 

Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 

and other federal agencies, as well as state wildland agencies. The definition also includes 

prison inmates serving on firefighting crews; firefighters employed by other governmental 

agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Energy; military personnel performing assigned 

fire suppression activities; and civilian firefighters working at military installations.
4 Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2019

What constitutes an on-duty fatality?

An on-duty fatality includes any injury or illness that was sustained while on duty and 

proves fatal. The term “on duty” refers to being involved in operations at the scene of an 

emergency, whether it is a fire or nonfire incident; responding to or returning from an 

incident; performing other officially assigned duties, such as training, maintenance, public 

education, inspection, investigations, court testimony or fundraising; and being on call, 

under orders or on standby duty (except at the individual’s home or place of business). 

An individual who experiences a heart attack or other fatal injury at home while they 

prepare to respond to an emergency is considered on duty when the response begins. A 

firefighter who becomes ill while performing fire department duties and suffers a heart 

attack shortly after arriving home (or at another location) may be considered on duty since 

the inception of the heart attack occurred while the firefighter was on duty.

On Dec. 15, 2003, the president of the United States signed the Hometown Heroes 

Survivors Benefit Act of 2003 into law. After being signed by the president, the act became 

Public Law 108-182. The law presumes that a heart attack or stroke is in the line of duty if 

the firefighter was engaged in nonroutine, stressful or strenuous physical activity while 

on duty, and the firefighter became ill within 24 hours after engaging in such activity. 

The full text of the law is available at https://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?

dbname=108_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ182.108.pdf.

The inclusion criteria for this study have been affected by this change in the law. Before 

Dec. 15, 2003, firefighters who became ill as the result of a heart attack or stroke after 

going off duty needed to register a complaint of not feeling well while still on duty in order 

to be included in this study. For firefighter fatalities after Dec. 15, 2003, firefighters will 

be included in this report if they became ill as the result of a heart attack or stroke within 

24 hours of a training activity or emergency response. Firefighters who became ill after 

going off duty, where the activities while on duty were limited to tasks that did not involve 

physical or mental stress, will not be included.

A fatality may be caused directly by an accidental or intentional injury in either emergency 

or nonemergency circumstances, or it may be attributed to an occupationally related fatal 

illness. A common example of a fatal illness incurred on duty is a heart attack. Fatalities 

attributed to occupational illnesses also include a communicable disease contracted 

while on duty that proved fatal when the disease could be attributed to a documented 

occupational exposure.

Firefighter fatalities are included in this report even when death is considerably delayed 

after the original incident. When the incident and the death occur in different years, the 

analysis counts the fatality as having occurred in the year in which the incident took place.

There is no established mechanism for identifying fatalities that result from illnesses, 

such as cancer, that develop over long periods of time and may be related to occupational 

exposure to hazardous materials or toxic products of combustion. It has proved to be very 

difficult to provide a complete evaluation of an occupational illness as a causal factor in 

firefighter deaths due to the following limitations: the exposure of firefighters to toxic 

hazards is not sufficiently tracked; the often-delayed, long-term effects of such toxic 

hazard exposures; and the exposures firefighters may receive while off duty.
Introduction 5

Sources of initial notification

As an integral part of its ongoing program to collect and analyze fire data, the USFA solicits 

information on firefighter fatalities directly from the fire service and from a wide range 

of other sources. These sources include the PSOB program administered by the U.S. 

Department of Justice, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 

the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the U.S. Department of Defense, and 

the National Interagency Fire Center.

The USFA receives notification of some deaths directly from fire departments, as well as 

from such fire service organizations as the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the 

International Association of Fire Fighters, NFPA, the National Volunteer Fire Council, state 

fire marshals, state fire training organizations, other state and local organizations, fire 

service internet sites, news services, and fire service publications.

Procedure for including a fatality in the study

In most cases, after notification of a fatal incident, initial telephone contact is made with 

local authorities by the USFA to verify the incident, its location, the jurisdiction, and the 

fire department or agency involved. Further information about the deceased firefighter 

and the incident may be obtained from the chief of the fire department, designee over 

the phone or by other forms of data collection. After basic information is collected, a 

notice of the firefighter fatality is posted at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial 

site in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and on the USFA website. A notice of the fatality is also 

transmitted by email to a large list of fire service organizations and fire service members.

Information that is routinely requested from fire departments that have experienced a 

fatality include National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS)-1 (incident) and NFIRS-3 

(fire service casualty) reports, the fire department’s own incident and internal investigation 

reports, copies of death certificates and autopsy results, special investigative reports, law 

enforcement reports, photographs and diagrams, and newspaper or media accounts of 

the incident. Information on the incident may also be gathered from NFPA or NIOSH 

reports.

After obtaining this information, a determination is made as to whether the death qualifies 

as an on-duty firefighter fatality according to the previously described criteria. With the 

exception of firefighter deaths after Dec. 15, 2003, the same criteria were used for this 

study as in previous annual studies. Additional information may be requested by the 

USFA, either through follow-up with the fire department directly, from state vital records 

offices or other agencies. The final determination as to whether a fatality qualifies as an 

on-duty death for inclusion in this statistical analysis is made by the USFA. The criteria as a 

line-of-duty death (LODD) for inclusion in the annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial 

Service is made by the NFFF.
6 Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2019

2019 Findings

Sixty-two firefighters died in 2019 from injuries sustained while on duty, 22 less than 

the 2018 total of 84 firefighters. The 2019 total includes 10 firefighters who died under 

circumstances that were part of inclusion criteria changes resulting from the Hometown 

Heroes Survivors Benefit Act. When not including these fatalities for the purposes of a 

trend analysis, there were 52 non-Hometown Hero firefighter fatalities in 2019, for the 

lowest annual total since the USFA began this study (Figure 1).

An analysis of multiyear firefighter fatality trends needs to acknowledge the changes from 

the December 2003 Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefit Act. Some graphs and charts 

in this report may not indicate the Hometown Heroes portion of the total. However, this 

does not diminish the sacrifices made by any firefighter who dies while on duty, or the 

sacrifices made by their family and peers.

In the same light, when conducting multiyear comparisons of firefighter fatalities in this 

report, the losses resulting from the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City 

on Sept. 11, 2001, are sometimes set apart for illustrative purposes. This action is by no 

means a minimization of the supreme sacrifice made by these firefighters.
2019 Findings 7

Figure 1 below shows the number of on-duty firefighter fatalities from 1977 through 2019. 

Figure 1. On-duty firefighter fatalities (1977-2019) 

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

1977197819791980198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019

Number of firefighter fatalities

Year

152

173

126

140

137

128

113

119119

108108

107

104

100100

93

117

106

450

102

114

108

99

93

107

110

82

74

65

71

100

70

76

70

71

69

52

77

83

126

122

132

136

plus 1 Hometown Heroplus 11 Hometown Heroesplus 17 Hometown Heroesplus 13 Hometown Heroesplus 15 Hometown Heroesplus 12 Hometown Heroesplus 14 Hometown Heroesplus 16 Hometown Heroesplus 22 Hometown Heroesplus 14 Hometown Heroesplus 9 Hometown Heroesplus 27 Hometown Heroesplus 15 Hometown Heroesplus 22 Hometown Heroesplus 17 Hometown Heroesplus 15 Hometown Heroesplus 10 Hometown Heroes

Note: For the year 2001, the increased number of firefighter fatalities include firefighters who were killed at the World Trade Center 

on Sept. 11, 2001.

From 2010 to 2019, there was an 18% decrease in on-duty firefighter fatalities (Figure 2).

Figure 2. On-duty firefighter fatalities (2010-2019) 

50

70

90

110

130

Trend

Firefighter fatalities

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Number of firefighter fatalities

Year

84

88

92 91

97

109

85 87

90

62

Note: Firefighter fatality counts include firefighters who died under circumstances who were part of inclusion criteria changes 

resulting from the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefit Act.
8 Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2019

Career, volunteer and wildland agency fatalities

In 2019, firefighter fatalities included 25 career firefighters, 34 volunteer firefighters, and 

three part-time or full-time members of wildland or wildland contract fire agencies (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Career, volunteer and wildland agency firefighter fatalities (2019)

Firefighter fatalities

62 total deaths

Career

25 deaths

Rural fire

departments

7 deaths

Urban/Suburban

fire departments

18 deaths

Full-time

2 deaths

Part-time or 

seasonal

1 death

Rural fire

departments

25 deaths

Urban/Suburban

fire departments

9 deaths

Volunteer

34 deaths

Wildland agency

3 deaths

Gender

The gender of the firefighters who died while on duty in 2019 consisted of one female 

and 61 males.

Multiple firefighter fatality incidents

There were no multiple firefighter fatality incidents in 2019 (Table 1); therefore, the 62 

deaths in 2019 resulted from a total of 62 fatal incidents.

Table 1. Multiple firefighter fatality incidents (2010-2019)

Year Number of multiple firefighter 

fatality incidents

Total number of firefighter 

fatalities in multiple 

firefighter fatality incidents

2019 0 0

2018 2 4

2017 1 2

2016 3 7

2015 3 7

2014 2 4

2013 4 35

2012 4 10

2011 3 6

2010 4 8

10-year average 3 8 
2019 Findings 9

From 1990 to 2019, there have been 502 firefighters 

killed during activities involving brush, grass or wildland 

firefighting — an average of 17 deaths per year. There were 

an average of 13 such deaths per year over the past decade.

Wildland firefighting fatalities

In 2019, seven firefighters were killed during activities involving brush, grass or wildland 

firefighting. This total includes part-time and seasonal wildland firefighters, full-time 

wildland firefighters, and municipal or volunteer firefighters (Figure 4).

Figure 4. Firefighter fatalities related to wildland firefighting (2010-2019)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Number of firefighter fatalities

Year

10 10

7

12

10

16

31

11 12

15

In 2019, there were no incidents related to wildland firefighting that resulted in multiple 

firefighter fatalities. There was one incident that involved an aircraft (helicopter) crash 

(Tables 2 and 3).
10 Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2019

Table 2. Firefighter fatalities associated with wildland firefighting (2010-2019)

Year

Total number 

of firefighter 

fatalities related 

to wildland 

firefighting

Number of fatal 

incidents related 

to wildland 

firefighting

Number of 

firefighters killed 

in multiple-fatality 

incidents related 

to wildland 

firefighting

2019 7 7 0

2018 10 10 0

2017 10 10 0

2016 15 13 4

2015 12 9 5

2014 11 11 0

2013 31 13 19

2012 16 12 6

2011 10 9 2

2010 12 12 0

10-year average 13 11 4

Table 3. Aircraft firefighter fatalities associated with wildland firefighting 

(2010-2019)

Year

Total number of aircraft 

firefighter fatalities 

related to wildland 

firefighting 

Number of aircraft fatal 

incidents related to 

wildland firefighting

2019 1 1

2018 0 0

2017 0 0

2016 0 0

2015 2 1

2014 2 2

2013 0 0

2012 2 1

2011 0 0

2010 0 0

10-year average 1 1 
Type of Duty 11

Type of Duty

Activities related to emergency incidents resulted in 

the deaths of 37 firefighters in 2019 (Figure 5). These 

activities include all firefighters who died responding 

to an emergenc y or at an emergenc y scene, 

returning from an emergency incident, and during 

other emergency-related activities. Nonemergency 

activities accounted for 25 fatalities. Nonemergency 

duties include training, administrative activities, 

performing other functions that are not related to 

an emergency incident, and post-incident fatalities 

where the illness or injury does not become evident 

until after the emergency.

A multiyear historical perspective relating to the 

percentage of firefighter deaths that occurred during 

emergency duty is presented in Table 4.

Figure 5. Firefighter fatalities 

by type of duty (2019)

Emergency

60%

(37)

Nonemergency

40%

(25)

Table 4. Emergency duty firefighter fatalities (2010-2019)

Year Percentage of total 

firefighter fatalities

Percentage of total 

firefighter fatalities 

excluding Hometown 

Heroes

2019 60.0 63.5

2018 52.4 59.4

2017 45.5 56.3

2016 41.3 54.3

2015 49.5 59.2

2014 45.4 61.4

2013 70.6 77.0

2012 52.9 63.4

2011 51.7 69.2

2010 55.6 67.6

10-year average 52.5 63.1 
12 Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2019

The number of deaths by type of duty performed for 2019 is shown in Figure 6. 

Figure 6. Firefighter fatalities by type of duty (2019)

Number of firefighter fatalities

Type of duty

0 5 10 15 20 25

Training

Responding or

 returning

On-scene nonfire

On-scene fire

Other on-duty 19

18

12

8

5

Fireground operations

Eighteen firefighters experienced fatal injuries during fireground operations in 2019. Of 

these fatalities, 17 were at the scene of a structure fire, and one was at the scene of 

a wildland or outside fire. The average age of the firefighters killed during fireground 

operations was 49 years old, with the youngest being 24 years old and the oldest being 72 

years old. Ten of those killed were volunteer, and eight were career firefighters. The nature 

of fatal injury while engaged in fireground operations for 10 of the firefighter deaths was 

heart attack (56%). The nature of fatal injury for the other eight deaths include: trauma 

(three), burns (two), crushed (one), other (one) and asphyxiation (one).

Type of fireground activity

Table 5 shows the types of fireground activities in which firefighters were engaged when 

they sustained their fatal injuries or illnesses. This total includes all firefighting duties on 

the fireground, such as wildland firefighting and structural firefighting. In 2019, the most 

common type of on-scene fire activity was advancing hoselines.

Table 5. Type of fireground activity (2019)

Type of fireground activity Number of firefighter fatalities

Advance hoselines 5

Incident command 3 

Search and rescue 3 

Unknown 2 

Support 2 

Standby 2

Setup 1
Type of Duty 13

Fixed property use for structural firefighting fatalities

There were 17 fatalities in 2019 where firefighters became ill or injured while on the scene 

of a structure fire. Of these fatalities, most occurred while on the scene of a residential 

structure fire. Table 6 shows the distribution of these deaths by fixed property use.

Table 6. Structural firefighting fatalities by fixed property use (2019)

Type of structure Number of firefighter fatalities

Residential 13 

Commercial 4 

Responding/returning

In 2019, as shown in Table 7, eight firefighters died or experienced an onset of symptoms 

while responding to or returning from eight emergency incidents: six while responding 

to, and two while returning from, an incident.

Table 7. Firefighter fatalities while responding to or returning from an incident 

(2010-2019) 

Year

Number of firefighter fatalities that 

occurred while responding to or 

returning from an incident

2019 8

2018 10

2017 11

2016 13

2015 8

2014 13

2013 14

2012 17

2011 11

2010 17

10-year average 12 

Training

In 2019, five firefighters died while engaged in training activities (Table 8). Three firefighters 

died from heart attacks and two died from heat exhaustion. 

Of the five firefighters who died while engaged in training activities, one firefighter died 

while performing fire department-mandated physical fitness training, one died while 

involved in an equipment drill, one died during a rapid intervention team (RIT) drill, one 

died at a vehicle extrication drill, and one died during outdoor search and rescue training.

The average age of the five firefighters was 51 years old. The youngest was 28 years old, 

and the oldest was 78 years old.
14 Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2019

Table 8. Firefighter fatalities while engaged in training (2010-2019)

Year Number of firefighter fatalities that 

occurred during training

2019 5

2018 9

2017 12

2016 9

2015 7

2014 10

2013 7

2012 8

2011 8

2010 12

10-year average 9 

Nonfire emergencies

In 2019, 12 firefighters were killed during emergency duties not related to fire. These 

response calls included nine motor vehicle accidents, one emergency medical services 

(EMS) call, one hazmat incident, and one incident where a firefighter and his department 

responded to a report of wires down. 

Five of the 12 firefighters died from heart attacks, four from traumatic injuries, one from a 

cerebrovascular accident (CVA), one from electrocution, and one from violence (shooting). 

Two of the traumatic injury deaths were from being struck by a vehicle. The average age 

was 50 years old. The youngest was 23 years old, and the oldest was 81 years old.
Cause of Fatal Injury 15

Cause of Fatal Injury

The term “cause of fatal injury” refers to the action, lack of action or circumstances that 

directly resulted in the fatal injury. The term “nature of fatal injury” refers to the medical 

cause of the fatal injury or illness, which is often referred to as the physiological cause of 

death. A fatal injury is usually the result of a chain of events, the first of which is recorded 

as the cause.

Figure 7 shows the distribution of deaths by cause of fatal injury or illness in 2019. In 2019, 

the leading cause of fatal injury was stress or overexertion.

Figure 7. Firefighter fatalities by cause of fatal injury (2019)

Number of firefighter fatalities

Cause of fatal injury

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Contact with

Assault

Other

Fall

Exposure

Collapse

Struck by

Caught or trapped

Vehicle collision

Stress or overexertion

6

36

2

5

5

2

2

2

1

1

Stress or overexertion

Firefighting is extremely strenuous work, and it can be one of the more physically 

demanding of human activities.

Stress or overexertion is a general category that includes all firefighter deaths that are 

cardiac or cerebrovascular in nature, such as heart attacks and strokes, as well as other 

events, such as extreme climatic thermal exposure. Classification of a firefighter fatality 

in this “cause of fatal injury” category does not necessarily indicate that a firefighter was 

in poor physical condition.

In 2019, 36 firefighters died as a result of stress or overexertion:

ĵ Thirty-two firefighters died due to heart attacks.

ĵ Three firefighters died due to CVAs.

ĵ One firefighter died from an aortic aneurysm and is listed as “Other.”

ĵ Ten were Hometown Heroes.
16 Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2019

Table 9. Firefighter fatalities caused by stress or overexertion (2010-2019)

Year

Number of 

firefighter 

fatalities caused 

by stress or 

overexertion

Percent of 

firefighter 

fatalities caused 

by stress or 

overexertion

Number of 

Hometown Hero 

fatalities caused 

by stress or 

overexertion

2019 36 58.1 10

2018 38 45.2 13

2017 53 60.2 16

2016 44 47.8 22

2015 60 65.9 15

2014 65 67.0 26

2013 39 35.8 9

2012 49 57.6 14

2011 54 62.1 21

2010 56 62.2 16

10-year average 49 56.2 16 

Vehicle crashes

In 2019, a total of six firefighters (three volunteer, two career and one wildland) lost 

their lives due to vehicle crashes. Vehicle crashes were the second leading cause of fatal 

firefighter injuries for the year. Two deaths involved privately owned vehicles, one death 

involved a helicopter, one death involved a fire department engine, one death involved a 

water tender, and one death involved an EMS vehicle.

ĵ A captain completed a shift at the fire department and departed to an overtime 

assignment at another fire station. He was commuting between assignments in his 

personal vehicle, a 1997 Ford Ranger. As he drove, he encountered a 2014 Dodge Ram 

pickup truck that had crossed the center line to pass another vehicle on the two-lane 

road. A collision occurred. The captain was ejected from his vehicle and sustained fatal 

injuries. His vehicle caught fire after it came to rest. The driver of the Dodge Ram was 

also killed in the crash. The crash occurred at sunrise.

ĵ A chief was returning from a county commission meeting. He was driving his personal 

vehicle, a motorcycle. As the chief drove, a vehicle turned left in front of him. The 

chief’s motorcycle struck the right side of the other vehicle, and he was thrown from 

his motorcycle. He was transported to the hospital but did not survive. His death was 

caused by traumatic head injuries. The driver of the vehicle that turned in front of the 

chief was found to have THC present in his blood at the time of the crash that could 

impair judgment. The driver was cited for driving under the influence and for failure to 

yield for oncoming traffic. The chief was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

ĵ A captain was a passenger in an Airbus AS350B3 helicopter that was engaged in plastic 

sphere dispenser application in support of controlled fire operations. The helicopter 

was owned by Mountain Air Helicopters Inc. and operated by the U.S. Forest Service 

as a public-use helicopter. Initial information provided to the National Transportation 

Safety Board by the pilot and surviving crew member report that after completing the 
Cause of Fatal Injury 17

application, the helicopter began flying back to the helicopter’s staging area when the 

engine lost complete power. The helicopter descended into trees and subsequently 

impacted terrain, coming to rest on its right side. One crew member and the pilot 

were able to exit the helicopter; however, the captain was partially ejected from the 

helicopter and sustained fatal injuries.

ĵ An assistant fire chief was the right-front seat passenger in a rescue engine responding 

to a motor vehicle crash. The apparatus made a left-hand turn during the response. 

During the turn, the assistant chief was ejected from the apparatus. He sustained severe 

head injuries in the fall. Firefighters stopped their response and requested medical 

assistance to the scene. The assistant fire chief was airlifted to a regional hospital where 

he died as a result of his injuries on Aug. 14, 2019. The law enforcement report on the 

incident stated that he had not been utilizing a seat belt. Information from the fire 

department indicated that the door latching system was inspected by the apparatus 

manufacturer after the crash and that no defects were found.

ĵ A firefighter was the driver and sole occupant of a 2004 GMC fire tanker (tender) 

responding to a wildland incident. As the tanker responded, the right wheels left the 

roadway, and when he overcorrected to the left, the vehicle crossed the roadway and 

struck an embankment off of the left side of the road. The tanker then overturned, 

ejecting and fatally injuring the firefighter. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of 

the crash, and excessive speed was cited as a factor in the crash in the law enforcement 

report. The wildland fire turned out to be a controlled burn.

ĵ A captain was responding in a Ford F350 non-transport EMS vehicle to the report of a 

car in a waterway with people trapped inside. As he responded, the captain’s vehicle 

struck the rear of a tractor-trailer that was making a left-hand turn. Visibility was limited 

due to fog and light conditions. The captain was not wearing his seat belt at the time 

of the crash. Both front and side airbags were activated. He passed away as the result 

of blunt force chest trauma injuries.

Figure 8. Firefighter fatalities in vehicle collisions (including aircraft) (2010-2019)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Number of firefighter fatalities

Year

10

12

6

12

5

18

9

11

5

19
18 Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2019

Struck by object

Being struck by an object was the third leading cause of fatal injuries, equal in severity 

with the category “Caught or Trapped”— both resulting in five firefighter fatalities in 2019.

ĵ A firefighter and the members of his aerial platform company were dispatched with other 

fire department units to a report of smoke in a downtown hotel. The first-due engine 

company requested a fan from the aerial platform truck to clear smoke in the building. 

The firefighter returned to the apparatus to retrieve a thermal-imaging camera (TIC). 

He apparently stumbled in front of the apparatus and fell flat on his back into oncoming 

traffic right as a vehicle passed by. The vehicle went over the top of the firefighter, 

crushing him with the tires and also catching his clothing and dragging him a short 

distance. Firefighters began treatment immediately on scene, and he was transported by 

fire department ambulance to a hospital. Approximately 45 minutes after his arrival at 

the hospital, the firefighter was pronounced deceased. His death was caused by traumatic 

injuries. Factors contributing to the incident were darkness, early morning rush hour, 

and the driver of the vehicle being blinded by the emergency lights of the apparatus.

ĵ A captain and the members of his fire department were dispatched to a local office 

building on the report of a gas leak. Firefighters arrived at the scene at 0813 hours 

and a major explosion occurred at 0828 hours. The captain was killed in the explosion, 

and six firefighters and a maintenance worker were injured. The cause of the leak was 

found to be the installation of bollards to protect an air conditioning unit from being 

struck by vehicles. As a bollard was drilled into the ground, it severed a propane line 

leading from a 500-gallon tank to the structure.

ĵ A fire engineer and his partner were dispatched to a service call. As they headed to 

the scene, they came upon a vehicle crash. While providing treatment for the injured, 

the fire engineer was struck by a tractor-trailer and received fatal traumatic injuries.

ĵ An assistant district chief and other members of his fire department responded to a 

vehicle crash. Fire apparatus and responding personal vehicles, with emergency lights 

in operation, had been placed to protect and block the scene of the crash. A tractortrailer carrying logs failed to stop as the vehicle approached the incident scene. The 

tractor-trailer struck several vehicles, left the roadway, and struck the assistant district 

chief. He was transported to the hospital but passed away as the result of his injuries.

ĵ A firefighter and the members of his fire department responded to an emergency 

incident. The firefighter and another firefighter responded to the incident in a tanker 

(tender) apparatus. The incident was concluded, and he and another firefighter left the 

scene to return to the fire station. They stopped the apparatus at the side of a narrow 

two-lane road to inspect the front tires of the apparatus. Another firefighter departing 

the scene in his personal dual-rear-wheeled pickup truck struck the firefighters as 

they stood near the apparatus. Both firefighters were injured. The firefighter passed 

away as the result of his injuries. Press reports indicated that the tanker’s headlights 

were on at the time of the incident but that the apparatus emergency lights were not 

in operation.
Cause of Fatal Injury 19

Caught or trapped

The classification of caught or trapped covers firefighters in wildland and structural fires 

who were unable to escape due to rapid fire progression and the byproducts of smoke, 

heat, toxic gas and flames. This classification may also include firefighters who drowned 

and those who were trapped and/or crushed.

In 2019, five firefighters died from being caught or trapped.

ĵ A driver/operator and other firefighters were on duty and engaged in preparations 

for the upcoming Independence Day fireworks display. The fire department had been 

tasked with the fireworks show in their town for several years. While firefighters were 

working in a concrete and metal storage building, a fireworks ignition occurred, setting 

off a chain reaction, igniting a number of other devices. At the time of the ignition, all 

12 firefighters who were working received various injuries of which two, including the 

driver/operator, sustained serious injuries. The driver/operator was transported to a 

regional burn center where he passed away as a result of his injuries.

ĵ Fire department units were dispatched to a report of a fire in an agricultural silo. When 

units arrived on scene, plant staff told them that a fire had been discovered in a pellet 

silo that had recently been cleaned. Initially, firefighters applied water through an 

opening at the base of the silo but did not seem to be making much progress on the 

fire. The decision was made by incident command to apply water onto the fire from 

above. A supply line was laid to a ladder truck positioned near the silo and a handline 

was extended from the tip of the ladder over a catwalk to a 4-foot by 4-foot hatch 

at the top of the silo. As firefighters flowed water from the handline into the upper 

hatch, an explosion occurred. A lieutenant who had been working at the top of the silo 

was thrown from the silo in the explosion. His fall was witnessed by other firefighters 

who came to his aid immediately. The lieutenant was transported by fire department 

ambulance to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The cause of death 

was listed as blunt force chest and abdominal injuries.

ĵ A lieutenant and the members of his ladder company were dispatched along with other 

firefighters to the report of a fire in a multistory residence with people trapped and 

the report of a missing child on the third floor. The first engine arriving on the scene 

found heavy fire on the second floor. The lieutenant and another firefighter were 

trapped on the third floor of the building by fire progression. A mayday was called and 

the on-scene RIT was deployed. The lieutenant ordered his firefighter out the window, 

but he was unable to follow for an unknown reason. Once the fire was knocked down, 

the lieutenant was located and removed from the building. He was transported to the 

hospital but did not survive. His death was caused by burns and internal trauma. The 

fire building was a balloon frame structure with wooden rear porches. High winds 

were a factor in this incident.

ĵ A captain and the members of his fire department were dispatched to a report of 

a fire in a three-story apartment building. The dispatch also included a report of 

someone trapped in the building. The captain, whose engine was the first on scene, 

reported a working fire and requested a second alarm. He ordered one firefighter to 

raise a ground ladder to the third floor of the structure to rescue a trapped resident. 

The captain and another firefighter advanced a 1 3/4-inch handline up the stairs to 

the second-floor landing. The captain and the other firefighter left the nozzle on 
20 Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2019

the landing and proceeded to the third floor to conduct a search. As they searched, 

conditions in the third-floor apartment deteriorated, and they made the decision to 

retreat to the second floor. Egress from the apartment, however, was blocked by fire 

conditions in the stairway. The captain initiated a mayday, and the team looked for a 

place of refuge in the apartment while they awaited rescue. The captain used his body 

to shield the other firefighter from fire conditions. As the fire was knocked down by 

other firefighters, the firefighter with the captain was able to make it to a balcony and 

signal other firefighters for assistance. The captain was removed from the building 

over ground ladder, and he was transported to the hospital. Despite efforts to revive 

him, he was pronounced deceased. The cause of death was listed as hyperthermia 

and/or hypoxia.

ĵ An assistant chief and the members of his fire department were dispatched to a 

wildland fire that was threatening structures. The assistant chief arrived at the fire 

scene driving a Type 6 brush truck. He and the firefighter with him were assigned to 

structure protection and began to control and extinguish the fire. A sudden wind shift 

and acceleration pushed the fire toward the position held by them. The fire progressed 

toward their position at a speed estimated at 150 feet per minute. The assistant chief 

attempted to drive away as the fire arrived at their position, but the vehicle became 

immobile. They abandoned the apparatus and began to run. The assistant chief was 

overrun by the fire and suffered severe burns. He was transported to a regional burn 

care facility for treatment but passed away as the result of his injuries.

Collapse

Two firefighters were killed in 2019 during structure collapses, equal in severity with the 

categories “Fall,” “Exposure” and “Other.”

ĵ Firefighters were dispatched to a report of a residential fire. Firefighters arriving on the 

scene found a working fire in a single-story brick and wood frame building. Mutual aid was 

requested, and a captain and other firefighters arrived on the scene. Upon their arrival, 

the captain and other firefighters were using a TIC to locate hot spots and apply water 

on the fire in the home’s walkout basement through a standard door and a garage door. 

A structural collapse occurred, and the captain was struck by debris. He was removed 

from the debris and treated by firefighters and EMS responders on the scene. He was 

transported to the hospital but did not recover. His death was caused by head and neck 

trauma. The home and its contents met the state’s definition of a hoarder home.

ĵ A firefighter and the members of his fire department were dispatched to a working fire 

in a two-story commercial structure. Upon arrival on the scene, firefighters worked 

to search the building to make sure that there were no occupants. The firefighter was 

working with his father, a lieutenant. They held clear the first floor of the building but 

could not ascend the stairs to the second story due to the instability of the stairs. Other 

firefighters accessed the second story over ground ladder on the exterior, and the 

firefighter and lieutenant used a ground ladder inside of the building to bridge over the 

stairs and access the second story. Fire conditions began to worsen, and firefighters 

were ordered to leave the second story. The lieutenant was located at the base of the 

interior stairs and removed from the building, but the firefighter could not be located. 

Fire conditions continued to worsen and the search for the firefighter was suspended. The 

firefighter was located and removed from the structure. His remains were transported 

to the coroner’s office. His death was caused by smoke inhalation/asphyxiation.
Cause of Fatal Injury 21

Fall

Two firefighters were killed in 2019 from injuries sustained in a fall.

ĵ A firefighter and other firefighters were dispatched to a report of a fire at the top of a 

condominium complex. The firefighter and another firefighter were assigned to find 

out if the fire could be accessed from the roof. The firefighter radioed the incident 

commander that he had found access to the roof through an access hatch. He went 

onto the roof area to access the fire as a hoseline was stretched to the roof area. The 

roof was covered with snow and ice. The firefighter lost traction and slid from the roof. 

He sustained fatal traumatic injuries in the fall.

ĵ A firefighter and his ladder company were dispatched to the scene of a motor vehicle 

crash on a parkway. As he was assisting at the scene, the firefighter fell through a gap 

dividing the eastbound and westbound lanes of an overpass bridge and plummeted 

52 feet to the ground. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced 

deceased a short time later from the traumatic injuries he sustained in the fall.

Exposure

Two firefighters were killed in 2019 when they came into contact with or were exposed 

to harm.

ĵ A firefighter was participating in outdoor search and rescue training at a regional 

training center. After 15 to 20 minutes of the exercise, he collapsed. He was treated 

immediately by other firefighters and transported to the hospital, but he did not 

survive. According to the coroner, his death was caused by heat stroke.

ĵ A firefighter came on duty in a rugged area of San Diego County. The on-duty company 

officer planned physical fitness activity for the morning that consisted of a hike over an 

established 1.45-mile loop trail near the fire station. The crew donned their wildland 

personal protective equipment and a hand tool. The temperature at the time of 

departure was approximately 78 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 63% 

and light winds. The first hike was completed in 40 minutes and 40 seconds, which 

was higher than the 30-minute fire station standard. After a 20-minute break, the hike 

was started again at approximately 0940 hours. During the second hike, the firefighter 

complained of being exhausted. The company officer carried the hand tools of both 

firefighters with him as well as his own and directed his second firefighter to assist 

the firefighter who was having problems with exhaustion. The firefighter who was not 

feeling well became overheated and exhibited symptoms of a mental status decline. 

An emergency medical response was initiated, and he was eventually removed by 

helicopter at 1204 hours. Despite treatment in the hospital, the firefighter passed 

away as a result of heat-related injuries.

Other

Two firefighters died in 2019 from causes of fatal injuries not previously categorized.

ĵ A senior firefighter/driver engineer took his own life while on duty.

ĵ Environmental Division personnel initiated a 424-acre prescribed fire operation for 

wildlife habitat improvements and fuel management. During the prescribed burn, a 

wildlife biologist/certified wildland firefighter was assigned a ground ignition operation, 
22 Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2019

utilizing an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) to conduct the task. At some point while conducting 

the assigned duties, personnel lost radio contact with the wildlife biologist/certified 

wildland firefighter. A search of the wildlife biologist/certified wildland firefighter’s last 

known location was conducted during which the wildlife biologist/certified wildland 

firefighter’s body was found. Fire department units were dispatched along with Army 

EMS and Military Police. Upon arrival, emergency personnel determined that the 

wildlife biologist/certified wildland firefighter sustained fatal injuries and was declared 

deceased by medical personnel. Additional details are pending the completion of 

investigative processes by the Army Criminal Investigation Division with support and 

assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives as well as 

the U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center Accident Investigation Team. A press 

report published in June of 2020 indicated that the final Army report on the incident 

found that the torch device attached to the ATV being driven by the wildlife biologist/

certified wildland firefighter was over pressurized and exploded. The news report said 

that she sustained fatal thermal injuries.

Assault

One firefighter died in 2019 from traumatic injuries sustained from being assaulted:

ĵ A firefighter and the members of his engine company were dispatched to a local 

transit center for the report of a bus passenger experiencing seizures. Firefighters 

found an unconscious passenger near the rear of the bus experiencing a medical 

emergency. Treatment began, and Narcan was administered twice. The passenger 

regained consciousness and began to exit the bus. Firefighters met the passenger when 

he got off of the bus and asked him to sit on the ambulance gurney for transport. The 

passenger refused, and the situation escalated. The passenger produced a handgun and 

fired several shots. The firefighter was struck in the chest. With shots still being fired, 

firefighters came to the aid of the injured firefighter, loaded him into an ambulance, 

and transported him to a nearby hospital. Despite aggressive treatment in the hospital, 

he was pronounced deceased.

Contact with

One firefighter was killed when he came in contact with electrical lines.

ĵ A firefighter/paramedic and the members of his fire department were dispatched to 

the report of a vehicle crash. The firefighter/paramedic lived across the street from the 

crash scene and ran to the scene to render aid. As he approached the scene, the top 

of a damaged utility pole broke off and fell to the roadway. He contacted live electrical 

lines with his abdomen and was fatally electrocuted. Rain, darkness and an absence 

of street lighting in the area were cited as factors in the incident.
Nature of Fatal Injury 23

Nature of Fatal Injury

Figure 9 shows the distribution of the 62 firefighter deaths that occurred in 2019 by the 

medical nature of the fatal injury or illness. In 2019, heart attack was the most common 

type of fatal injury. Figure 10 shows the percentage distribution of nature of fatal injury.

Figure 9. Firefighter fatalities by nature of fatal injury (2019)

Number of firefighter fatalities

Nature of fatal injury

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Asphyxiation

Violence

Electrocution

Crushed

Other

Heat exhaustion

CVA

Burns

Trauma

Heart attack 33

15

3

4

2

2

1

1

1

1

Figure 10. Percentage distribution of firefighter fatalities by nature of fatal injury 

(2019)

Electrocution

Heat exhaustion

Violence

Burns

Crushed

CVA

Asphyxiation

Other

Trauma

Heart attack

51.6

24.2

3.2

4.8

6.5

3.2

1.6

1.6

1.6 1.6
24 Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2019

Figure 11 shows the type of duty involved for the 32 firefighters who died because of a 

heart attack.

Figure 11. Heart attacks by type of duty (2019)

Number of firefighter fatalities

Type of duty

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

Returning

Training

Responding

On-scene nonfire

Other on duty

On-scene fire

1 

10

10

3

5

3
Firefighter Ages 25

Firefighter Ages

Figure 12 shows the distribution of firefighter deaths by age (at the time of injury). Table 

10 provides a count of firefighter fatalities by age and the nature of the fatal injury.

Figure 12. Firefighter fatalities by age (2019) 

0

5

10

15

20

25

61 and

over

under 21 21 to 25 26 to 30 31 to 35 36 to 40 41 to 45 46 to 50 51 to 60

Firefighter ages

Number of firefighter fatalities by age

3 3

8

7

11

8

19

0

3

Table 10. Firefighter fatalities by age and nature of fatal injury (2019)

Age

Number of firefighter 

fatalities who died of 

trauma/asphyxiation/

other

Number of firefighter 

fatalities who died of 

heart attack/CVA

Under 21 0 0 

21 to 25 2 1 

26 to 30 2 1 

31 to 35 3 0 

36 to 40 5 3 

41 to 45 3 4 

46 to 50 7 4 

51 to 60 3 5 

61 and over 2 17 
26 Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2019

Deaths by Time of Injury

For 2019, the distribution of firefighter deaths, according to the time of day when the fatal 

injury occurred, is illustrated in Figure 13. The time of fatal injury for two firefighters was 

either unknown or not reported.

Figure 13. Firefighter fatalities by time of fatal injury (2019)

Time of fatal injury

Number of fatal injuries

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Unknown times

11 p.m. - Mid

10 - 11 p.m.

9 - 10 p.m.

1 - 2 p.m.2 - 3 p.m.3 - 4 p.m.4 - 5 p.m.5 - 6 p.m.6 - 7 p.m.7 - 8 p.m.8 - 9 p.m.

12 - 1 p.m.

11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

10 - 11 a.m.

9 - 10 a.m.

1 - 2 a.m.2 - 3 a.m.3 - 4 a.m.4 - 5 a.m.5 - 6 a.m.6 - 7 a.m.7 - 8 a.m.8 - 9 a.m.

Mid - 1 a.m.

2

3

2 2

3

1

22

5

4

3

0

1

2

33

1

3

4

22

4

2

3 3

Note: The time of fatal injury for two firefighters was either unknown or not reported.

Firefighter Fatality Incidents by Month 

of the Year

Figure 14 illustrates the 2019 firefighter fatalities by month of the year. Most fatalities 

occurred in the month of October, followed by the month of May.

Figure 14. Firefighter fatalities by month of the year (2019)

Number of firefighter fatalities

Month of the year

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

December 

November 

October 

September 

August 

July 

June

May 

April

March 

February 

January 3

7

4

4

6

9

5

6

6

4

5

3
State and Region 27

State and Region

The distribution of firefighter deaths in 2019 by state is shown in Table 11. Firefighters 

based in 31 states died in 2019.

The highest number of firefighter deaths in 2019 (based on the location of the fire service 

organization) occurred in New York, with seven losses. Florida and Pennsylvania had five 

deaths each. There were no other states with five or more firefighter fatalities for the year.

Table 11. Firefighter fatalities by state based on location of fire service (2019)*

State Number of firefighter 

fatalities

Percentage of firefighter 

fatalities

NY 7 11.3

FL 5 8.1

PA 5 8.1

AL 3 4.8

CA 3 4.8

ME 3 4.8

SC 3 4.8

TX 3 4.8

GA 2 3.2

IL 2 3.2

MA 2 3.2

MD 2 3.2

MO 2 3.2

NM 2 3.2

WI 2 3.2

AR 1 1.6

CO 1 1.6

DC 1 1.6

IA 1 1.6

ID 1 1.6

*This list attributes the deaths according to the state in which the fire department or unit is based, as opposed 

to the state in which the death occurred. They are listed by those states for statistical purposes and for the 

National Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the NETC.
28 Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2019

Table 11. Firefighter fatalities by state based on location of fire service (2019) — 

continued

State Number of firefighter 

fatalities

Percentage of firefighter 

fatalities

MI 1 1.6

MS 1 1.6

NC 1 1.6

NE 1 1.6

NH 1 1.6

NJ 1 1.6 

OH 1 1.6

SD 1 1.6

TN 1 1.6

WA 1 1.6

WV 1 1.6

Total 62 100
On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities Where Incidents Occurred in Previous Years 29

On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities Where 

Incidents Occurred in Previous Years

There were two firefighters who died in 2019 but whose fatal injury occurred while on 

duty in previous years.

ĵ In 1999, a firefighter/paramedic was a passenger in the back of an ambulance 

transporting a patient to the hospital. He had graduated from a state fire academy 

a few days prior. A school bus struck the ambulance as it proceeded through an 

intersection. The firefighter/paramedic received grave injuries in the crash. He remained 

in a vegetative state until his death in 2019.

ĵ In 2018, a firefighter was directing traffic at the scene of a vehicle crash when he was 

struck by a dump truck. He suffered critical injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, 

from which he was unable to recover. He passed away as a result of his injuries in 2019.
30 Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2019

On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities Where 

Incidents and Deaths Occurred in 

Previous Years

USFA was informed in 2019 of three additional firefighters whose death and on-duty fatal 

injury both occurred in previous years.

ĵ In 1981, a firefighter sustained inhalational injuries while responding to a fire in a storage 

room containing cleaning chemicals and plastic parts. Approximately 27 firefighters 

required hospitalization due to injuries from this fire scene, including this firefighter. 

In 1987, he was granted a Performance of Duty Disability Retirement by the state due 

to these injuries. He continued to receive treatment for the injuries received on this 

date for decades, including a lung transplant which was authorized in 2003. He passed 

away in 2011, as a result of complications from inhalation injuries.

ĵ In 2015, a chief was injured while advancing a hoseline during a defensive attack on a 

structure fire. His injury required multiple surgeries to address. He underwent his last 

surgery in 2018. Shortly after this surgery, he was found deceased in his hospital bed.

ĵ In 2018, a firefighter and the members of his fire department responded to an automatic 

fire alarm in a building. The alarm was unnecessary, and the incident was completed. 

The firefighter suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after arriving home.
On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities Where Incidents and Deaths Occurred in Previous Years 31

Figure 15.

Source: USFA - National Fire Data Center, NFFF.
32 Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2019 Figure 16.

Source: USFA - National Fire Data Center, NFFF.
On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities Where Incidents and Deaths Occurred in Previous Years 33

Figure 17.

Source: USFA - National Fire Data Center, NFFF.
34 Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2019

Analysis of Urban/Suburban/Rural 

Patterns in Firefighter Fatalities

The U.S. Census Bureau defines “urban” as a place having a population of at least 2,500 

or lying within a designated urban area. “Rural” is defined as any community that is not 

urban. “Suburban” is not a census term, but may be taken to refer to any place, urban or 

rural, that lies within a metropolitan area defined by the Census Bureau, but not within 

one of the central cities of that metropolitan area.

Fire department areas of responsibility do not always conform to the boundaries used by 

the Census Bureau. For example, fire departments organized by counties or special fire 

protection districts may have both urban and rural coverage areas. In such cases, where 

it may not be possible to characterize the entire coverage area of the fire department as 

rural or urban, firefighter deaths were listed as urban or rural based on the particular 

community or location in which the fatality occurred.

The following patterns were found for 2019 firefighter fatalities. These statistics are based on 

answers from the fire departments, and when no data from the departments were available, 

the data were based upon population and area served, as reported by the fire departments.

Table 12. Firefighter fatalities by coverage area type (2019)

Urban/suburban Rural Total

27 35 62 
Appendix 35

Appendix

Firefighter Fatality Inclusion Criteria — National Fire Service 

Organizations

NFPA, NFFF, USFA and other organizations individually collect information on firefighter 

fatalities in the United States. Each organization uses a slightly different set of inclusion 

criteria that are based in part on the purposes of the information collection for each 

organization and data consistency. As a result of these differing inclusion criteria, statistics 

about firefighter fatalities are provided by each organization. This section will explain the 

inclusion criteria for each organization and provide information about these differences.

USFA includes firefighters in this report who died while on duty, became ill while on duty 

and later died, and firefighters who died within 24 hours of an emergency response or 

training regardless of whether the firefighter complained of illness while on duty. USFA 

counts firefighter deaths that occur in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and United 

States protectorates such as Puerto Rico and Guam. Detailed inclusion criteria appear 

starting on page 6 of this report.

For 2019, USFA reported 62 on-duty firefighter fatalities.
36 Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2019

Firefighter fatalities in 2019 for incidents occurring in 2019

0

20

40

60

80

100

USFA NFPA NFFF

Number of firefighter fatalities

National fire service organization

62

48

60

Inclusion criteria for the National Fire Protection Association’s 

annual firefighter fatality study

Introduction

Each year, NFPA collects data on all firefighter fatalities in the United States that resulted 

from injuries or illnesses that occurred while the victims were on duty. The purpose of 

the study is to analyze trends in the types of illnesses and injuries resulting in deaths that 

occur while firefighters are on the job. This annual census of firefighter fatalities in its 

current format dates back to 1977. (Between 1974 and 1976, NFPA published a study of 

on-duty firefighter fatalities that was not as comprehensive.)

What is a firefighter?

For the purpose of the NFPA study, the term “firefighter” covers all uniformed members 

of organized fire departments, whether career, volunteer or combination, or contract; 

full-time public service officers acting as firefighters; state and federal government fire 

service personnel; temporary fire suppression personnel operating under official auspices 

of one of the above; and privately employed firefighters including trained members of 

industrial or institutional fire brigades, whether full or part time.

Under this definition, the study includes, besides uniformed members of local career 

and volunteer fire departments, those seasonal and full-time 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 industrial fire brigades. Impressed civilians would also be included if called on by the 

officer in charge of the incident to carry out specific duties. The NFPA study includes 

fatalities that occur in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Appendix 37

What does “on duty” mean?

The term “on duty” refers to being at the scene of an alarm, whether a fire or nonfire 

incident; being en route while responding to or returning from an alarm; performing other 

assigned duties such as training, maintenance, public education, inspection, investigations, 

court testimony and fundraising; and being on call, under orders or on standby duty 

other than at home or at the individual’s place of business. Fatalities that occur at a 

firefighter’s home may be counted if the actions of the firefighter at the time of injury 

involved firefighting or rescue.

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 nonemergency occupational hazards that occur while on duty. Types 

of injuries sustained in the line of duty are mainly those that occur at an incident scene, in 

training, or in accidents while responding to or returning from alarms. Illnesses (including 

heart attacks) are included when the exposure or onset of symptoms are tied to a specific 

incident of on-duty activity. Those symptoms must have been in evidence while the victim 

was on duty for the fatality to be included in the study.

Fatal injuries and illnesses are included even in cases where death is considerably delayed. 

When the onset of the condition and the death occur in different years, the incident is 

counted in the year of the condition’s onset. Medical documentation specifically tying the 

death to the specific injury is required for inclusion of these cases in the study.

Categories not included in the study

The NFPA study does not include members of fire department auxiliaries, nonuniformed 

employees of fire departments, emergency medical technicians who are not also 

firefighters, chaplains or civilian dispatchers. The study also does not include suicides as 

on-duty fatalities even when the suicide occurs on fire department property.

The NFPA recognizes that a comprehensive study of firefighter on-duty fatalities would 

include chronic illnesses (such as cardiovascular disease and certain cancers) that prove 

fatal and that arose from occupational factors. In practice, there is as yet no mechanism 

for identifying on-duty fatalities that are due to illnesses that develop over long periods 

of time. This creates an incomplete picture when comparing occupational illnesses to 

other factors as causes of firefighter deaths. This is recognized as a gap the size of which 

cannot be identified at this time because of the limitations in tracking the exposure of 

firefighters to toxic environments and substances and the potential long-term effects of 

such exposures.

2019 experience

In 2019, a total of 48 on-duty firefighter deaths occurred in the United States, according 

to the NFPA inclusion criteria. 
38 Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2019

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

In 1997, fire service leaders formulated new criteria to determine eligibility for inclusion 

on the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial. LODDs shall be determined by the following 

standards:

1. Deaths meeting the Department of Justice’s PSOB program guidelines for a favorable 

determination.

2. Deaths directly resulting from traumatic injuries sustained during response to, at 

the scene of or during return from an emergency incident, including, but not limited 

to, fires, emergency medical calls, hazardous materials incidents, natural disasters, 

technical rescue incidents, and search and rescue missions.

3. Deaths directly resulting from traumatic injuries sustained while engaged in 

department-authorized training drill or activity that requires participants to be 

engaged in physical activity.

4. Deaths directly resulting from traumatic injuries sustained while engaged in a 

department-mandated physical exercise program administered by the agency, including, 

but not limited to, running or other types of physical exercise and annual recertification 

fitness or agility tests.

5. Deaths directly resulting from a cardiovascular event that occurs immediately after, 

or within 24 hours of, returning from an emergency response or being engaged in a 

department-mandated physical exercise or training activity as defined above.

6. Deaths directly resulting from cancer, disease or infection that are defined as meeting 

the criteria of the decedent’s home state occupational exposure presumption laws. 

(Note: Applies only to such deaths occurring on or after Jan. 1, 2018.)

The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial was built in 1981 in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The 

names listed there begin with those firefighters who died in the line of duty that year. 

The United States Congress created the NFFF to lead a nationwide effort to remember 

America’s fallen firefighters. Since 1992, the tax-exempt, nonprofit foundation has 

developed and expanded programs to honor our fallen fire heroes and assist their families 

and coworkers by providing them with resources to rebuild their lives. Since 1997, the 

foundation has managed the National Memorial Service held each October to honor the 

firefighters who died in the line of duty the previous year.

As of this writing, the foundation recognized 103 fallen firefighters during the October 

2020 National Tribute. Eighty-two firefighters recognized were associated with deaths that 

occurred in 2019. Of those 82, 22 of the deaths were as a result of incidents that occurred 

prior to 2019. The remaining 21 deaths were from incidents and deaths that occurred in 

previous years. 
Acronyms 39

Acronyms

ATV all-terrain vehicle

CVA cerebrovascular accident

EMS emergency medical services

LODD line-of-duty death

NETC National Emergency Training Center

NFFF National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

NFIRS National Fire Incident Reporting System

NFPA National Fire Protection Association

NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

PSOB Public Safety Officer Benefits

RIT rapid intervention team

TIC thermal-imaging camera

USFA U.S. Fire Administration
16825 South Seton Ave.

Emmitsburg, MD 21727

usfa.fema.gov

October 2020