FIRE FIGHTER FATALITY INVESTIGATION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM
Investigations
As of 2016, NIOSH has investigated over 600 firefighter line-of-duty deaths since the program was initiated, or approximately 40 percent of the total number of firefighter fatalities.
Did you know…
- Approximately 80 to 100 firefighters die in the line of duty each year.
- A firefighter fatality is considered to be a line-of-duty death when the fatality occurs while the firefighter is on-duty or within 24 hours after last being on-duty or responding to an emergency event.
- In 1998, Congress funded NIOSH to implement a firefighter safety initiative to address this occupational hazard.
- Historically, approximately half of all firefighter line-of-duty deaths have been caused by heart attacks and cardiovascular disease.
- Other leading causes of firefighter fatalities include motor vehicle crashes, rapid fire progression, struck-by events, structural collapse, lost/disorientation, and falls.
WHAT WE DO
Learn what five steps to expect during our firefighter fatality investigations.
COMPLETED INVESTIGATIONS
Search for reports by state data map, state and fatality type, keyword, or USFA/NIOSH map.
PENDING INVESTIGATIONS
Search pending firefighter fatality investigations and reports.
Page last reviewed: August 24, 2020
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health