USFA - 2005 saw 106 LODD

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Emmitsburg, MD- The United States Fire Administration (USFA) announced today, this nation suffered 106 on-duty firefighter fatalities in the United States in 2005.

In addition to these fatalities, the USFA has learned of 4 firefighter fatalities in 2005 related to injuries suffered in years prior to 2005.

"The fire service of this nation has tragically lost, again, too many firefighters in 2005," said Deputy USFA Administrator Charles Dickinson. "The USFA approaches 2006, joined with the fire organizations and fire department leaders, to commit to doing what it takes to reduce these too often, preventable losses."

On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities 1977-2005

1977 157 1987 131 1997 100

1978 171 1988 136 1998 93

1979 126 1989 119 1999 113

1980 140 1990 107 2000 103

1981 135 1991 108 2001* 105/449

1982 126 1992 77 2002 101

1983 113 1993 81 2003 112

1984 119 1994 105 2004 117

1985 126 1995 102 2005** 106

1986 121 1996 99

* Includes events related to September 11, 2001.

** Provisional and subject to change.

In 2005, there were 4 multiple-firefighter fatality incidents.

Two New York City firefighters died in January when rapid fire progress forced them to jump from a fire-involved structure;

3 firefighters were killed in the crash of a helicopter in Texas in March as they assisted with a controlled burn;

2 Wyoming firefighters died in a residential structure fire in April;

and 3 firefighters were killed in the crash of an air tanker in California.

Additionally, the New York City Fire Department suffered a third firefighter fatality on the same day as the January incident cited above, at another incident scene. The Memphis, Tennessee Fire Department lost 2 firefighters in separate incidents during the year.

Additionally, heart attacks were responsible for the deaths of 48 firefighters in 2005 (45%), reduced from 61 in 2004 (51%). Seven firefighters died of CVAs in 2005, up from 4 in 2004. Vehicle crashes took the lives of 26 firefighters in 2005. Five firefighters were killed in tanker (tender) crashes, 5 firefighters were killed in crashes that involved passenger vehicles, and 4 firefighters were killed in pumper crashes. Firefighters were also killed in crashes involving ATVs, aircraft, and a boat.

The average age of a firefighter killed in 2005 was 46. The youngest firefighter to die while on-duty in 2005 was an 18-year-old Connecticut firefighter who died after falling from a ladder during training. The oldest firefighter to die while on-duty in 2005 was a 76-year-old New Jersey firefighter who was struck by a suspected drunk driver at a roadside emergency scene.

These fatality statistics for 2005 are provisional and subject to change as the USFA contacts State Fire Marshals. For additional information on firefighter fatalities, including the annual fatality reports from 1986 through 2004 and the Firefighter Fatality Retrospective Study 1990–2000, please visit the USFA Web site http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fatalities/statistics/

The United States Fire Administration has developed educational programs in the past few years to directly address firefighter deaths in vehicle crashes. Efforts have specifically targeted tanker operations, career firefighter vehicle operations, and volunteer firefighter vehicle operations. For additional information regarding these programs, go to http://www.usfa.fema.gov/research/safety/v...le-roadway.shtm