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FA 215, 8/2001 Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2000 National Fire Data Center United States Fire Administration Federal Emergency Management Agency August 2001 Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2000 Prepared for National Fire Data Center United States Fire Administration Federal Emergency Management Agency Contract Number EME-1998-CO-0202-T009 Prepared by IOCAD Emergency Services Group Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2000 U.S. Fire Administration - Mission Statement As an entity of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the mission of the United States Fire Administra- tion is to reduce life and economic losses due to fire and related emergencies, through leadership, advocacy, coor- dination and support. We serve the Nation independently, in coordination with other Federal agencies, and in part- nership with fire protection and emergency service com- munities. With a commitment to excellence, we provide public education, training, technology and data initiatives. Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2000 TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................ I ACKNOWLEDGMENTS................................................................................................................II BACKGROUND...........................................................................................................................1 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................1 WHO IS A FIREFIGHTER?.........................................................................................................1 WHAT CONSTITUTES AN ON-DUTY FATALITY? .........................................................................2 SOURCES OF INITIAL NOTIFICATION .......................................................................................3 PROCEDURE FOR INCLUDING A FATALITY IN THE STUDY ...........................................................3 2000 FINDINGS ...................................................................................................................4 MULTIPLE FIREFIGHTER FATALITY INCIDENTS .............................................................................6 WILDLAND FIRE FIGHTING DEATHS ...........................................................................................7 TYPE OF DUTY .........................................................................................................................8 CAREER, VOLUNTEER, AND WILDLAND DEATHS BY TYPE OF DUTY ............................................12 TYPE OF EMERGENCY DUTY ...................................................................................................13 CAUSE OF FATAL INJURY ........................................................................................................14 NATURE OF FATAL INJURY .......................................................................................................18 FIREFIGHTERS A GES ..............................................................................................................20 FIXED PROPERTY USE FOR STRUCTURAL FIRE FIGHTING DEATHS ..............................................21 TYPE OF A CTIVITY...................................................................................................................21 TIME OF INJURY......................................................................................................................23 MONTH OF THE Y EAR..............................................................................................................24 STATE AND REGION..................................................................................................................25 ANALYSIS OF URBAN/RURAL/SUBURBAN PATTERNS IN FIREFIGHTER FATALITIES..........................26 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................28 SPECIAL TOPICS ....................................................................................................................29 HEART A TTACKS .....................................................................................................................29 IMMEDIATE IMPACT A REAS .......................................................................................................38 APPENDIX A .........................................................................................................................A-1 I Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2000 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 indi- vidual fire departments, chief fire officers, the National Interagency Fire Center, United States Forest Service personnel, the United States military, the Department of Justice, NFPA International, and many others contributed important information for this report. IOCAD Emergency Services Group of Emmitsburg, Maryland (a division of IOCAD Techni- cal Services, Inc.) conducted this analysis for the United States Fire Administration (USFA) under contract EME-1998-CO-0202-T009. The ultimate objective of this effort is to reduce the number of firefighter deaths through an increased awareness and understanding of their causes and how they can be prevented. Fire fighting, rescue, and other types of emergency operations are essential activities in an inherently dangerous profes- sion, and unfortunate tragedies do occur. This is the risk all firefighters accept every time they respond to an emergency incident. However, the risk can be reduced greatly through efforts to increase firefighter health and safety. Photographic Acknowledgments The United States Fire Administration wishes to thank the following sources for contributing the photographs used in this report: The Deseret News and photographer Laura Seitz for the use of the photograph that appears on the cover. The photograph depicts the funeral procession of Firefighter Kendall O. Bryant of the Layton City, Utah, Fire Department who died on March 31, 2000. The State Journal-Register of Springfield, Illinois, and photographer Shawn Poynter for the use of the photograph that appears on the cover which depicts the funeral procession of Captain Steven Wilmot of the Springfield Fire Department who died on August 9, 2000. The News-Press of Fort Myers, Florida, and photographer Darron R. Silva for the use of the photograph that appears on page 10. The photograph shows the scene of a helicopter crash that claimed the life of Firefighter/Rotor Craft Pilot George A. Bo Burton of the Florida Division of Forestry who died on June 4, 2000. The Fayetteville Observer of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and photographer Marcus Castro for the use of the photograph that appears on page 15. The photograph shows the scene of a collision between a ladder truck and a train that claimed the life of Firefighter/ Engineer David Clements Sharp, II, of the Fayetteville Fire/Emergency Management Department who died on March 17, 2000. This report is dedicated to the families of those firefighters who made the ulti- mate sacrifice in 2000. May the lessons learned from their passing not go unheeded. II Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2000 BACKGROUND For more than 20 years, the United States 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 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 also is used to measure the effectiveness of current programs directed toward firefighter health and safety. One of the USFAs 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 four major objectives that guide the actions of the USFA. In addition to the analysis, the USFA provides a list of firefighter fatalities to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. If Memorial criteria are met, the fallen firefighters next of kin, as well as members of the individual fire department, are invited to the annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. The service is held at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland, annually during Fire Prevention Week. Additional information regarding the Memorial Service can be found on the internet at http://www.firehero.org/ or by calling the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation at (301) 447-1365. An updated list of firefighter fatalities from 1981 through the present, including a searchable database, may be found at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/ffmem/ffmem_search.cfm INTRODUCTION This report continues a series of annual studies by the USFA of on-duty firefighter fatalities in the United States. The specific objective of this study was to identify all on-duty firefighter fatalities that occurred in the United States in 2000, 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. In addition to the 2000 overall findings, this study includes

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