Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2004 in States United the in Fatalities Firefighter
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FirefighterFatalities in the United States in 2004 U.S. Fire Administration Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2004 FA-299/August 2005 Dating back to the time of the Crusades, it is a symbol of charity, loyalty, chivalry, gallantry, generosity to firend and foe, protection of the weak, and dexterity in service. Today, firefighters everywhere are proud to wear the time- honored Maltese Cross as part of their uniform. The Maltese Cross and the Fire Service, American Fire Journal, v. 50 (4), p. 14, April 1998 FIREFIGHTER FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES IN 2004 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency U.S. Fire Administration August 200 In memory of all fi refi ghters who answered their last call in 2004 t To their families and friends t To their service and sacrifi ce U.S. Fire Administration Mission Statement As an entity of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the mission of the U.S. 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. A CKNOWLEDGMENTS This study of fi refi ghter fatalities would not have been possible without the cooperation and assistance of many members of the fi re service across the United States. Members of individual fi re departments, chief fi re offi cers, United States Forest Service personnel, the Department of Justice, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the National Fallen Firefi ghters Foundation, and many others contributed important information for this report. C2 Technologies, Inc., of Vienna, Virginia, conducted this analysis for the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) under contract EME-2003-CO-0282. The ultimate objective of this effort is to reduce the number of fi refi ghter deaths through an increased awareness and understanding of their causes and how they can be prevented. Firefi ghting, 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 fi refi ghters accept every time they respond to an emergency incident. However, the risk can be greatly reduced through efforts to improve training, emergency scene operations, and fi refi ghter health and safety. P HOTOGRAPHIC A CKNOWLEDGMENTS The USFA would like to extend its thanks to individuals and organizations that provided photographs for this report. All uncredited photographs were taken at the National Fallen Firefi ghters Memorial weekend in Emmitsburg, MD, October 2004, by Patti Odbert, Scientifi c and Commercial Systems Corporation. V TABLE OF C ONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS................................................................................................................. V . Photographic.Acknowledgments.............................................................................................. V BACKGROUND.............................................................................................................................1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................3 Who is a Firefighter?.................................................................................................................3. What Constitutes an Onduty Fatality?.....................................................................................3. Sources of Initial Notification...................................................................................................4. Procedure.for.Including.a.Fatality.in.the.Study.......................................................................5 2004 FINDINGS...........................................................................................................................7 . Career.and.Volunteer.Deaths...................................................................................................8. Multiple-Firefighter Fatality Incidents......................................................................................9. Wildland Firefighting Deaths....................................................................................................9 TYPE OF DUTY...........................................................................................................................11. Fireground.Operations............................................................................................................12. Responding/Returning...........................................................................................................12. Other.Onduty...........................................................................................................................13. Training....................................................................................................................................13. Non-fire Emergencies.............................................................................................................14. After.an.Incident.....................................................................................................................14. Career,.Volunteer,.and.Wildland.Deaths.by.Type.of.Duty.....................................................14. Type of Emergency Duty.........................................................................................................15. CAUSE OF FATAL INJURY..........................................................................................................15. Stress.or.Overexertion............................................................................................................16. Vehicle.Crashes......................................................................................................................17. Struck.by.Object......................................................................................................................18. Caught.or.Trapped..................................................................................................................19. Collapse..................................................................................................................................19. Falls.........................................................................................................................................20. Other........................................................................................................................................20 NATURE OF FATAL INJURY........................................................................................................21. Heart.Attack............................................................................................................................21. Internal.Trauma......................................................................................................................22. Crushed...................................................................................................................................23. Asphyxiation............................................................................................................................23. continued on next page . Cerebrovascular.Accident.(CVA).............................................................................................23. Burns.......................................................................................................................................23. Drowning.................................................................................................................................23. Other........................................................................................................................................23. FIREFIGHTER AGES...................................................................................................................24. FIXED PROPERTY USE FOR STRUCTURAL FIREFIGHTING DEATHS.......................................25. TYPE OF ACTIVITY.....................................................................................................................25. Fire.Attack...............................................................................................................................25. Search.and.Rescue................................................................................................................27. Water.Supply...........................................................................................................................27. Scene.Safety...........................................................................................................................27. Incident.Command.................................................................................................................27. Ventilation...............................................................................................................................27.