FEMA - Press Release

EMMITSBURG. Md. - United States Fire Administration (USFA) announced today firefighter deaths in the line of duty decreased last year. That number is down to 102 in 2000 from the 112 line of duty fatalities reported in 1999. The USFA, part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, prepares the annual report and analysis in support of its mission to reduce life and economic losses due to fire and related emergencies.

"Even one firefighter giving his life in service to our country is too many, but I am pleased to see the trend downward has resumed," said FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh. "Through the firefighter health and safety programs developed by USFA and the National Fire Academy we hope to continue to provide tools that fire departments across our country can use to prevent these tragic losses."

According to officials at USFA, 64 volunteer and 38 career firefighters lost their lives in 2000. Emergency incidents either at the scene, or responding to or from the scene, accounted for 72 deaths. There were 30 non-emergency deaths involving training, administrative or other duties not directly associated with an emergency response. Wildland firefighting accounted for 14 of the deaths.

"Many of our firefighters are still dying as a result of stress and overexertion at emergency scenes," said Ken Burris, Acting Administrator and Chief Operating Officer for USFA. "Forty-five of the fatalities were heart attacks or strokes.

"While this number is down from last year, fire departments across the U.S. need to redouble their efforts to prevent these tragic losses though physical fitness programs and appropriate rehabilitation and fire ground safety operations."

Since 1978 the number of firefighter line of duty deaths has declined annually, from a high of 178, with the exception of 1999, which saw a one-year upswing.

All of the reported fatalities for 2000 were submitted to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to be considered for inclusion on the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial's upcoming Oct. 7 ceremony at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Md.

For two decades, USFA’s National Fire Data Center has kept track of firefighter fatalities and conducted an analysis of the fatalities that occur each year since 1986. The lowest number of deaths in one year since the study began was in 1992 when 75 deaths were recorded.

Through the collection of information on the causes of firefighter deaths, the USFA is able to focus on specific problems and direct efforts towards finding solutions to reduce the number of firefighter fatalities in the future. This information is also used to measure the effectiveness of current efforts directed toward firefighter health and safety.