The number of on-duty deaths recorded in 2014 is the lowest on record.
Of the 85 firefighters who perished, 25 were considered Hometown Heroes, which means they died of a heart attack or stroke within 24 hours of responding to an emergency.
The number of deaths -- 60 -- is the lowest in the 38 years of record-keeping by the USFA.
In 2011, of the 84 deaths, 20 were Hometown Heroes.
Data also showed that two firefighters who died in 2014 sustained their injuries years before.
During 2013, there were 106 on duty deaths, including seven Hometown Heroes.
The data, collected by the USFA, is preliminary as state fire marshals will be asked to check their records. After the numbers are checked, a final report will be generated in the next few months.
Heart attacks and strokes continue to be top killers of firefighters, followed by trauma.
Of those who died, 47 were volunteers, 35 career, two full-time and one part-time wildland; one industrial and two contract wildland
Other records show:
- 27 firefighters were 51-60
- 23 were 61 or older
- February was the deadliest month – 14
- April and June -- 3 each
- New York had the most -- 8
- Non-Incident Related -- 38
- Structures -- 22
- Males, 83; Females, 2
- Average Mean Age, 51
