U.S. Fire Administration Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2003 Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2003 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency U.S. Fire Administration August 2004 In memory of all firefighters who answered their last call in 2003 To their families and friends To their service and sacrifice U.S. Fire Administration Mission Statement As an entity of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the mission of the United States Fire Administration is to reduce life and economic losses due to fire and related emergencies, through leadership, advocacy, coordination, and support. We serve the Nation independently, in coordination with other Federal agencies, and in partnership with fire protection and emergency service communities. With a commitment to excellence, we provide public education, training, technology, and data initiatives. On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA’s continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the Nation for all hazards and effectively manage Federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program, and the U.S. Fire Administration. 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, United States Forest Service personnel, the Department of Justice, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, and many others contributed important information for this report. C2 Technologies, Inc., of Vienna, Virginia, conducted this analysis for the United States Fire Administration (USFA) under contract EME-2003-CO-0282. 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. Firefighting, rescue, and other types of emergency operations are essential activities in an inherently dangerous profession, 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 greatly reduced through efforts to improve training and operations at emergency scenes, and by increasing firefighter health and safety. Photographic Acknowledgments The USFA would like to extend its thanks to the following individuals for providing photographs for this report: Front Cover Image: Rick Cinclair, Worcester Telegram & Gazette A firefighter braces against blowing snow at the funeral for Firefighter Martin H. McNamara, V. Betty Jenewin, Worcester Telegram & Gazette Lancaster, Massachusetts, firefighter Martin H. McNamara, V, was killed while he fought a fire in the basement of this house. .............................................................................................................................14 Ohio State Highway Patrol Scene of the crash that claimed the life of Firefighter Richard A. Long of the Gallipolis (Ohio) Volunteer Fire Department. The apparatus left the right side of the roadway, came back onto the road, and rolled. ........................................................................................................................................22 Dave Schwarz, St. Cloud Times St. Cloud, Minnesota, Assistant Chief Don Billig was killed when he was struck by a pickup truck at the scene of an emergency. ....................................................................................................................23 Glenn Hartong, Cincinnati Enquirer Cincinnati Fire Chief Robert Wright carries the flag that covered Firefighter Oscar Armstrong’s casket as he prepares to present it to Armstrong’s mother. .........................................................................62 V Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..............................................................................................................................V Photographic Acknowledgments...............................................................................................................V BACKGROUND........................................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 3 Who is a Firefighter?................................................................................................................................. 3 What Constitutes an On-Duty Fatality?...................................................................................................... 3 Sources of Initial Notification ................................................................................................................... 4 Procedure for Including a Fatality in the Study ......................................................................................... 5 2003 FINDINGS ......................................................................................................................................... 7 Career and Volunteer Fatalities................................................................................................................... 8 Multiple Firefighter Fatality Incidents ....................................................................................................... 9 Wildland Firefighting Fatalities ................................................................................................................. 9 TYPE OF DUTY.........................................................................................................................................11 Responding/Returning...........................................................................................................................13 Fireground Operations............................................................................................................................14 Training...................................................................................................................................................15 Nonfire Emergencies...............................................................................................................................16 After the Incident ....................................................................................................................................16 Other On-Duty .......................................................................................................................................16 Career, Volunteer, and Wildland Fatalities by Type of Duty.......................................................................16 Type of Emergency Duty .........................................................................................................................17 CAUSE OF FATAL INJURY ........................................................................................................................19 Stress or Overexertion.............................................................................................................................20 Vehicle Collisions.....................................................................................................................................20 Caught or Trapped...................................................................................................................................22 Falls .......................................................................................................................................................22 Struck by Object .....................................................................................................................................23 Other ......................................................................................................................................................23 NATURE OF FATAL INJURY.....................................................................................................................25 Heart Attack ............................................................................................................................................26 Internal Trauma.......................................................................................................................................27 Burns ......................................................................................................................................................28 Asphyxiation ...........................................................................................................................................28 Crushed ..................................................................................................................................................28 Drowning................................................................................................................................................28 Heat Exhaustion ......................................................................................................................................28 Other ......................................................................................................................................................29