Firefighter Statistics - 2001

USFA Releases Preliminary Firefighter Fatality Statistics For 2001

EMMITSBURG, Md. - The United States Fire Administration (USFA) announced today that 441 firefighters died while on-duty in the United States in 2001. This total, which is more than four and one-half times the average annual number of firefighter deaths for the last decade, includes 343 firefighters lost at the World Trade Center on September 11. The loss represents the worst total since the USFA began tracking firefighter fatalities in 1977. USFA is a part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"2001 was a tragic year for America's fire service," R. David Paulson, United States Fire Administrator, said. "In addition to the many local heroes who died serving their communities nationwide, the eyes of the world turned to New York City on September 11."

"The USFA is committed to helping firefighters and fire departments respond more safely to emergencies that occur in their communities. Terrorism has changed our world forever but the traditional killers of firefighters are still around."

In 2001, firefighter's fatalities were reported in 86 communities in 33 states. These totals are provisional and may change as additional information about firefighter fatalities is received.

The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11 that claimed the lives of 343 members of the Fire Department City of New York (FDNY) is the worst single incident loss of firefighter lives in history.

There were eight incidents in 2001 where more than one firefighter was killed; two of these tragedies occurred in New York City. In addition to the World Trade Center losses, three firefighters were killed in the explosion of a hardware store in New York City on Father's Day. Other firefighters lost during the line of duty include the following:

- Four wildland firefighters were killed in July when they were trapped by rapid-fire progress in a forest fire in Washington State.
- Three firefighters were killed in the crash of a fire fighting helicopter in Montana during August.
- Two firefighters were killed when two fire fighting aircraft collided in midair while fighting a wildfire in California during August.
- A total of 14 firefighters died in association with wildfire incidents.
- Two Illinois firefighters were killed when they were trapped in the basement of a burning structure in February.
- Two Missouri firefighters were killed when they were trapped by rapid-fire progress in a residential fire in March.
- Two Pennsylvania firefighters drowned as they attempted to recover the body of a boater.
- 79 single firefighter fatality incidents.

On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities
(1977-2001)

Year Number of Death

The vast majority of firefighter fatalities in 2001 occurred on the scene of a fire incident with 384 deaths in the category (343 were the result of the World Trade Center collapse). The balance of fatalities occurred as follows:

- Twenty firefighters died as they responded to an emergency or returned from one; many of these deaths involve vehicle collisions.
- Eleven deaths occurred during training.
- Three firefighters died at the scene of non-fire emergencies such as the two Pennsylvania firefighters who drowned during a water recovery.
- One firefighter died of a heart attack just after the conclusion of an emergency incident.
- Twenty-two firefighters engaged in other fire department duties at the time of their death occurred in 2001.
- An Ohio firefighter struck and killed by a falling section of a tree while testing fire hydrants is an example of this type of incident.

2001 Fatalities by Type of Duty

Duty Deaths % of Total

Fire ground Operations 384 87.1%

Other On-Duty 22 5.0%

Responding/Returning from Alarm 20 4.5%

Training 11 2.5%

Non-Fire Emergencies 3 0.7%

After an Incident 1 0.2%

Heart attacks continue to be a leading cause of firefighter deaths, killing 39 firefighters in 2001. The 39 deaths represent 8.8 percent of the 2001 total. This percentage rises to 40 percent when the massive number of FDNY firefighters is excluded from the calculation.

The largest number of firefighter fatalities by month occurred in September with 352 deaths. The lowest number of firefighter fatalities by month occurred in November and December with three deaths in each month.

The USFA contacts state fire marshals at the beginning of each year to verify the names of firefighters reported to have died on-duty during the previous year and expects to have the annual fatality report completed by early June.