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FIRE FIGHTER FATALITY INVESTIGATION AND PREVENTION

Investigations

As of 2016, NIOSH has investigated over 600 fire fighter line-of-duty deaths since the program was initiated, or approximately 40 percent of the total number of fire fighter fatalities.

Did you know…

  • Approximately 80 to 100 fire fighters die in the line of duty each year.
  • A fire fighter fatality is considered to be a line-of-duty death when the fatality occurs while the fire fighter is on-duty or within 24 hours after last being on-duty or responding to an emergency event.
  • In 1998, Congress funded NIOSH to implement a fire fighter safety initiative to address this occupational hazard.
  • Historically, approximately half of all fire fighter line-of-duty deaths have been caused by heart attacks and cardiovascular disease.
  • Other leading causes of fire fighter fatalities include motor vehicle crashes, rapid fire progression, struck-by events, structural collapse, lost/disorientation, and falls.

WHAT WE DO
Learn what five steps to expect during our fire fighter fatality investigations.

COMPLETED INVESTIGATIONS
Search for reports by state data map, state and fatality type, keyword, or USFA/NIOSH map.

PENDING INVESTIGATIONS
Search pending fire fighter fatality investigations and reports.

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