The number of firefighter injured declined 5.1 percent last year, the NFPA announced Thursday.
In 2013, 65,880 firefighter injuries occurred, according to the annual report.
A breakdown showed 29,760 occurred during fireground operations, while 11,800 happened while firefighters were doing other on duty activities. Another 12,535 were hurt at non-emergency incidents.
The leading type of injury received during fireground operations was strain, sprain or muscular pain (55.3%), followed by wound, cut, bleeding, bruise (13.8%). Regionally, the Northeast had the highest fireground injury rate, researchers noted.
Last year, 10 firefighters were killed in motor vehicle collisions.
In 2013, there were an estimated 12,350 collisions involving fire department emergency
vehicles, where departments were responding to or returning from incidents. They resulted
in 730 firefighter injuries or 1.1% of all firefighter injuries.
Also, 830 collisions involving firefighters’ personal vehicles occurred in 2013 while
departments were responding to or returning from incidents. These collisions resulted in an
estimated 185 injuries, according to the report.
Other findings show:
• In addition to injuries, there were 7,100 exposures to infectious diseases, and 17,400
exposures to hazardous conditions.
• 29,760 or 45.2% of all firefighter injuries occurred during fireground operations. An
estimated 11,800 occurred during other on duty activities, 4,015 while
responding/returning from an incident, 7,770 during training activities, and 12,535
occurred at nonfire emergency incidents.
• The Northeast reported a higher number of fireground injuries per 100 fires than other
regions of the country.
• The major types of injuries received during fireground operations were: strain, sprain,
muscular pain (55.3%); wound, cut, bleeding, bruise (13.8%); burns (5.1%) smoke or gas
inhalation (5.0%). Strains, sprains, and muscular pain accounted for 58.4% of all
nonfireground injuries.
• The leading causes of fireground injuries were overexertion, strain (26.5%) and fall, slip,
jump (22.7%)
