A PROVISIONAL REPORT
ON-DUTY FIREFIGHTER FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES
Date Range 1/1/2009 to 12/31/2009


Number of On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities: 90 
Count of Hometown Heroes: 13 

Classification: 

46 Volunteer 51.1% 
36 Career 40% 
4 Wildland Contract 4.44% 
3 Wildland Full-Time 3.33% 
1 Part-Time(Paid) 1.11% 

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

Type of Duty: 

28 On-Scene Fire 31.1% 
17 After 18.8% 
15 Other On-Duty 16.6% 
12 Responding 13.3% 
9 On-Scene Non-Fire 10% 
6 Training 6.66% 
3 Returning 3.33% 

Percent of Fatalities Related to Emergency Duty: 62.2% 
Number of firefighter fatalities associated with Suspicious/Incendiary incidents: 6

Type of Incident: 

35 Not Incident Related 38.8% 
22 Structure Fire 24.4% 
15 Wildland 16.6% 
7 MVA 7.77% 
4 EMS 4.44% 
3 Other 3.33% 
2 Vehicle Fire 2.22% 
1 Outside Fire 1.11% 
1 False Alarm 1.11% 




Cause of Fatal Injury: 
52 Stress/Overexertion 57.7% 
16 Vehicle Collision 17.7% 
7 Fall 7.77% 
4 Struck by 4.44% 
3 Caught/Trapped 3.33% 
3 Other 3.33% 
2 Collapse 2.22% 
2 Lost 2.22% 
1 Contact with 1.11% 

Nature of Fatal Injury: 

43 Heart Attack 47.7% 
28 Trauma 31.1% 
8 CVA 8.88% 
5 Asphyxiation 5.55% 
2 Burns 2.22% 
1 Electrocution 1.11% 
1 Violence 1.11% 
1 Heat Exhaustion 1.11% 
1 Other 1.11% 

Age of Firefighter When the Fatal Injury Was Sustained: 

2 - Under 21 
3 - 21 to 25 
5 - 26 to 30 
18 - 31 to 40 
24 - 41 to 50 
23 - 51 to 60 
15 - 61 and Over 

Percent of Firefighter Fatalities Under Age 40: 28.9% 




Type of Activity: 

39 Not On Scene 43.3% 
12 Advance Hose Lines 13.3% 
12 Responding 13.3% 
7 Unknown 7.77% 
5 Other 5.55% 
4 S&R 4.44% 
3 Unknown 3.33% 
2 Pump Ops 2.22% 
2 Water Supply 2.22% 
2 Scene Safety 2.22% 
1 Support 1.11% 
1 IC 1.11% 

Time of Fatal Injury: 

3 0100-0259 
4 0300-0459 
4 0500-0659 
3 0700-0859 
4 0900-1059 
3 1100-1259 
12 1300-1459 
10 1500-1659 
6 1700-1859 
5 1900-2059 
11 2100-2259 
9 2300-0059 
16 Unknown 

Month of the Year: 

9 January 10% 
10 February 11.1% 
8 March 8.88% 
14 April 15.5% 
3 May 3.33% 
9 June 10% 
5 July 5.55% 
10 August 11.1% 
3 September 3.33% 
6 October 6.66% 
4 November 4.44% 
9 December 10% 

Firefighter Fatalities by State by Location of Fire Service Organization: 

2 Alabama 2.22% 
1 Arizona 1.11% 
3 California 3.33% 
1 Colorado 1.11% 
2 Connecticut 2.22% 
2 Florida 2.22% 
3 Georgia 3.33% 
2 Illinois 2.22% 
1 Indiana 1.11% 
2 Kansas 2.22% 
1 Kentucky 1.11% 
5 Louisiana 5.55% 
2 Massachusetts 2.22% 
1 Maryland 1.11% 
1 Maine 1.11% 
3 Missouri 3.33% 
3 Mississippi 3.33% 
4 Montana 4.44% 
6 North Carolina 6.66% 
2 New Jersey 2.22% 
7 New York 7.77% 
3 Ohio 3.33% 
4 Oklahoma 4.44% 
8 Pennsylvania 8.88% 
1 Rhode Island 1.11% 
1 South Carolina 1.11% 
5 Texas 5.55% 
2 Utah 2.22% 
3 Virginia 3.33% 
2 Vermont 2.22% 
1 Washington 1.11% 
4 Wisconsin 4.44% 
2 West Virginia 2.22% 



Firefighter Fatalities by State by Location of Fatal Incident: 

2 Alabama 2.22% 
1 Arizona 1.11% 
3 California 3.33% 
1 Colorado 1.11% 
2 Connecticut 2.22% 
2 Florida 2.22% 
3 Georgia 3.33% 
2 Illinois 2.22% 
1 Indiana 1.11% 
2 Kansas 2.22% 
1 Kentucky 1.11% 
5 Louisiana 5.55% 
2 Massachusetts 2.22% 
1 Maryland 1.11% 
1 Maine 1.11% 
3 Missouri 3.33% 
3 Mississippi 3.33% 
6 North Carolina 6.66% 
2 New Jersey 2.22% 
1 Nevada 1.11% 
7 New York 7.77% 
3 Ohio 3.33% 
4 Oklahoma 4.44% 
8 Pennsylvania 8.88% 
1 Rhode Island 1.11% 
1 South Carolina 1.11% 
5 Texas 5.55% 
5 Utah 5.55% 
3 Virginia 3.33% 
2 Vermont 2.22% 
1 Washington 1.11% 
4 Wisconsin 4.44% 
2 West Virginia 2.22%