Reports & Statistics

The U. S. Fire Administration (USFA) has tracked the number of firefighter fatalities and conducted an annual analysis for almost 30 years. Through the collection of information on the causes of firefighter deaths, the USFA is able to 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.

One of the USFA's main program goals is a 25-percent reduction in firefighter fatalities in 5 years and a 50-percent reduction within 10 years. The emphasis placed on these goals by the USFA is underscored by the fact that these goals represent one of the five major objectives that guide the actions of the USFA.

On December 15, 2003, the President of the United States signed into law the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefit Act of 2003. After being signed by the President, the Act became Public Law 108-182. The law presumes that a heart attack or stroke are in the line of duty if the firefighter was engaged in nonroutine stressful or strenuous physical activity while on duty and the firefighter becomes ill while on duty or within 24 hours after engaging in such activity. The full text of the law is available on the U.S. Government Printing Office Web site.

The inclusion criteria for USFA's annual firefighter fatality study has been affected by this change in the law; the change has resulted in an approximate 6-8% increase in the total number of on-duty firefighter fatalities listed.

Prior to December 15, 2003, firefighters who became ill as the result of a heart attack or stroke after going off duty needed to register some complaint of not feeling well while still on duty in order to be included in the USFA study. For firefighter fatalities after December 15, 2003, firefighters will be included in the study if they become ill as the result of a heart attack or stroke within 24 hours of a training activity or emergency response. Firefighters who become ill after going off duty where the activities while on duty were limited to nonstressful tasks that did not involve physical exertion such as clerical, administrative, or nonmanual in nature, will not be included in the USFA study.

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