A PROVISIONAL REPORT
ON-DUTY FIREFIGHTER FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES
Date Range 01/01/2009 to 10/31/2009

Number of On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities: 76 
Count of Hometown Heroes: 8 

Classification: 

38 Volunteer 50% 
30 Career 39.4% 
4 Wildland Contract 5.26% 
3 Wildland Full-Time 3.94% 
1 Part-Time(Paid) 1.31% 

Number of Multiple Firefighter Fatality Incidents: 6 
Number of Firefighter Fatalities Associated with Wildland Incidents: 16 

Type of Duty: 

26 On-Scene Fire 34.2% 
12 Other On-Duty 15.7% 
11 After 14.4% 
10 Responding 13.1% 
8 On-Scene Non-Fire 10.5% 
6 Training 7.89% 
3 Returning 3.94% 

Percent of Fatalities Related to Emergency Duty: 65.7% 
Number of firefighter fatalities associated with incendiary fires: 6

Type of Incident: 

27 Not Incident Related 35.5% 
22 Structure Fire 28.9% 
15 Wildland 19.7% 
5 MVA 6.57% 
3 EMS 3.94% 
3 Other 3.94% 
1 Vehicle Fire 1.31% 



Cause of Fatal Injury: 

43 Stress/Overexertion 56.5% 
15 Vehicle Collision 19.7% 
6 Fall 7.89% 
3 Caught/Trapped 3.94% 
3 Struck by 3.94% 
2 Lost 2.63% 
2 Collapse 2.63% 
1 Contact with 1.31% 
1 Other 1.31% 

Nature of Fatal Injury: 

35 Heart Attack 46.0% 
24 Trauma 31.5% 
7 CVA 9.21% 
5 Asphyxiation 6.57% 
2 Burns 2.63% 
1 Electrocution 1.31% 
1 Violence 1.31% 
1 Heat Exhaustion 1.31% 

Age of Firefighter When the Fatal Injury Was Sustained: 

2 - Under 21 
2 - 21 to 25 
5 - 26 to 30 
12 - 31 to 40 
22 - 41 to 50 
20 - 51 to 60 
13 - 61 and Over 

Percent of Firefighter Fatalities Under Age 40: 25.0% 



Type of Activity: 

30 Not On Scene 39.4% 
12 Advance Hose Lines 15.7% 
10 Responding 13.1% 
6 Unknown 7.89% 
4 S&R 5.26% 
4 Other 5.26% 
2 Pump Ops 2.63% 
2 Water Supply 2.63% 
2 Scene Safety 2.63% 
2 Unknown 2.63% 
1 IC 1.31% 
1 Support 1.31% 

Time of Fatal Injury: 

3 0100-0259 
4 0300-0459 
3 0500-0659 
3 0700-0859 
4 0900-1059 
1 1100-1259 
12 1300-1459 
9 1500-1659 
4 1700-1859 
4 1900-2059 
10 2100-2259 
8 2300-0059 
11 Unknown 

Month of the Year: 

9 January 11.8% 
9 February 11.8% 
8 March 10.5% 
14 April 18.4% 
3 May 3.94% 
9 June 11.8% 
5 July 6.57% 
10 August 13.1% 
3 September 3.94% 
6 October 7.89% 




Firefighter Fatalities by State by Location of Fire Service Organization: 

2 Alabama 2.63% 
1 Arizona 1.31% 
3 California 3.94% 
1 Colorado 1.31% 
2 Connecticut 2.63% 
2 Florida 2.63% 
2 Georgia 2.63% 
1 Illinois 1.31% 
1 Indiana 1.31% 
2 Kansas 2.63% 
1 Kentucky 1.31% 
4 Louisiana 5.26% 
2 Massachusetts 2.63% 
1 Maryland 1.31% 
1 Maine 1.31% 
3 Missouri 3.94% 
3 Mississippi 3.94% 
4 Montana 5.26% 
3 North Carolina 3.94% 
2 New Jersey 2.63% 
6 New York 7.89% 
3 Ohio 3.94% 
4 Oklahoma 5.26% 
5 Pennsylvania 6.57% 
1 Rhode Island 1.31% 
1 South Carolina 1.31% 
5 Texas 6.57% 
1 Utah 1.31% 
2 Virginia 2.63% 
2 Vermont 2.63% 
3 Wisconsin 3.94% 
2 West Virginia 2.63% 



Firefighter Fatalities by State by Location of Fatal Incident: 

2 Alabama 2.63% 
1 Arizona 1.31% 
3 California 3.94% 
1 Colorado 1.31% 
2 Connecticut 2.63% 
2 Florida 2.63% 
2 Georgia 2.63% 
1 Illinois 1.31% 
1 Indiana 1.31% 
2 Kansas 2.63% 
1 Kentucky 1.31% 
4 Louisiana 5.26% 
2 Massachusetts 2.63% 
1 Maryland 1.31% 
1 Maine 1.31% 
3 Missouri 3.94% 
3 Mississippi 3.94% 
3 North Carolina 3.94% 
2 New Jersey 2.63% 
1 Nevada 1.31% 
6 New York 7.89% 
3 Ohio 3.94% 
4 Oklahoma 5.26% 
5 Pennsylvania 6.57% 
1 Rhode Island 1.31% 
1 South Carolina 1.31% 
5 Texas 6.57% 
4 Utah 5.26% 
2 Virginia 2.63% 
2 Vermont 2.63% 
3 Wisconsin 3.94% 
2 West Virginia 2.63%