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Each year an average of 105 fire fighters die in the line of duty. To
address this continuing national occupational fatality problem, NIOSH
conducts independent investigations of fire fighter line of duty deaths.
This web page provides access to NIOSH investigation reports and other
fire fighter safety resources.
| SPOTLIGHT |
National Firefighter Health Week
NIOSH is again pleased to participate as a partner in the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) annual National Firefighter Health Week, scheduled for August 17- 21, 2009. Now in its third year, National Firefighter Health Week is a week-long initiative to educate the fire and emergency services community and the public about heart-health as well as a variety of other health and wellness issues. This year's theme "It takes a healthy heart, mind, and body to do what you do - Keep It Strong." (External link: http://www.healthy-firefighter.org/)
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Fatality Investigation Reports
To list all investigative reports completed for a particular state, click
on the map.
The drop down boxes below allow for interactive queries
of completed investigative reports. Select a state, incident year and/or
Medical or Trauma Category from the selection boxes and click on Submit.
Recently Released Reports
Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation # F2008-07 Two Career Fire Fighters Die and Captain is Burned When Trapped during Fire Suppression Operations at a Millwork Facility – North Carolina (added 8/19/09)
Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation # F2008-09 A Career Captain and a Part-time Fire Fighter Die in a Residential Floor Collapse – Ohio (added 8/4/09)
Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation # F2009-06 Two Career Fire Fighters Die after Falling From Elevated Aerial Platform – Texas (added 7/15/09)
Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation # F2007-27 Volunteer Fire Fighter Dies after Ten-Foot Fall From Engine – Ohio (added 7/15/09)
Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation # F2009-01 Fire Fighter Suffers Sudden Cardiac Death During Rural Water Supply Training – Illinois (added 6/28/09)
Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation # F2007-17 A Career Captain Dies and a Fire Fighter/Driver is Seriously Injured When Two Fire Trucks Collide at an Intersection – Connecticut
(added 6/28/09)
Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation # F2008-34 Volunteer Fire Fighter Dies While Lost in Residential Structure Fire – Alabama (added 6/16/09)
Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation # F2008-33 Career Fire Fighter Fatally Injured When Struck in the Head by the Boom of an Aerial Platform – Louisiana
(added 6/16/09)
Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation # F2007-19 Career Fire Fighter Dies in Fall from Roof at Apartment Building Fire – New York
(added 6/16/09)
Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation # F2008-36 Fire Fighter Suffers Sudden Cardiac Death During Live Fire Training – North Carolina (added 6/2/09)
Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation # F2008-35 Fire Fighter Suffers Fatal Heart Attack While Fighting Residential Fire – New Jersey (added 6/2/09)
Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation # F2008-30 Fire Captain Suffers Fatal Heart Attack After Conducting Live Fire Training – Pennsylvania (added 6/2/09)
Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation # F2008-29 Fire Chief Suffers Fatal Heart Attack While Responding to a Structure Fire – Pennsylvania (added 6/2/09)
Recent NIOSH
Fire Fighter Safety Publications
Preventing Deaths and Injuries of Fire Fighters Working Above Fire-Damaged Floors
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2009-114
Fire fighters are at risk of falling through fire-damaged floors.
Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program: Leading Recommendations for Preventing Fire Fighter Fatalities, 1998–2005
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2009-100
This document is a synthesis of the 1,286 individual recommendations from the 335 FFFIPP investigations conducted from 1998 to 2005.
Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program Evaluation
NIOSH report of findings from its national survey of U.S. fire departments.
Preventing Fire Fighter Fatalities Due to Heart Attacks and Other Sudden Cardiovascular Events
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2007-133
Fire fighters are at risk of dying on the job from preventable cardiovascular conditions.
FDA AND NIOSH Public Health Notification: Oxygen Regulator Fires Resulting from Incorrect Use of CGA 870 Seals
External link: http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/
PublicHealthNotifications/ucm062088.htm
This document provides information on the danger of fires at the interface of oxygen regulators and cylinder valves because of incorrect use of CGA 870 seals, and identifies measures to prevent such fires.
NIOSH Alert: Preventing
Injuries and Deaths of Fire Fighters due to Truss System Failures
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2005-132
Fire fighters may be injured and killed when fire-damaged roof and floor
truss systems collapse, sometimes without warning.
NIOSH
Workplace Solutions—Preventing Deaths and Injuries to Fire Fighters
During Live-Fire Training in Acquired Structures
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2005-102
Fire fighters are subjected to many hazards when participating in live-fire
training. Training facilities with approved burn buildings should be used
for live-fire training whenever possible. However, when acquired structures
are used for live-fire training, NIOSH strongly recommends that fire departments
follow the national consensus guidelines in NFPA 1403, standard on live-fire
training evolutions [NFPA 2002a] to reduce the risk of injury and death.
These guidelines are summarized in the recommendations in this document.
Radio Communication
The past few decades have seen major advancements in the communication industry. These advancements have improved radio frequency spectrum efficiency, but also have added complexity to the expansion of existing systems and the design of new systems. The U.S. Fire Administration in conjunction with the International Association of Fire Fighters has released the report Voice Radio Communications Guide for the Fire Service  3.85 MB (77 pages) External link: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/publications
/Voice_Radio_Communications_Guide_for_the_Fire_Service.pdf
This report is designed to help fire service leaders and members understand new communication and radio system issues in order to remain informed players in the process.
Current Status, Knowledge Gaps, and Research
Needs Pertaining to Firefighter Radio Communication Systems
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) commissioned
this study to identify and address specific deficiencies in firefighter
radio communications and to identify technologies that may address these
deficiencies. Specifically to be addressed were current and emerging technologies
that improve, or hold promise to improve, firefighter radio communications
and provide firefighter location in structures.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology, Building and Fire Research Laboratory publication "Testing of Portable Radios in a Fire Fighting Environment" 265 KB (24 pages)
External link: http://fire.nist.gov/bfrlpubs/fire06/PDF/f06015.pdf focuses on the thermal environment that radios would be expected to withstand while being used in structural fire fighting operations. Current NFPA standards for radios are reviewed and recommendations for establishing performance standards are presented. The need for providing additional protection from the thermal environment is documented.
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