Newsroom

Date:01/08/04

FIREFIGHTER FATALITY FIGURES SHOW INCREASE OVER 2002

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Despite advances in firefighting equipment, training and communication, 110 firefighters died while on-duty in the United States in 2003, an increase over the 100 deaths recorded in 2002, according to figures released today by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). According to a review of the deaths, 36 states and Guam saw at least one firefighter die last year.

"The sacrifice of this nation's firefighters is heartbreakingly real, directly affecting their communities and departments - and especially the families they leave behind," said Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response. "As President Bush has noted, these men and women are the front lines of homeland defense. We mourn the loss of these heroes."

R. David Paulison, the Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), part of FEMA, pledged to continue his efforts to reduce the number of firefighters who die each year.

"Firefighters continue to give their lives while serving their communities. In 2003, President Bush signed a bill into law that will provide benefits to the survivors of firefighters who suffer heart attacks and die in the line of duty," said Paulison. "We are thankful to the President and Congress for this benefit, but I earnestly hope that the efforts of the USFA will ensure those benefits are used less and less each year."

In 2003, 29 firefighters died in wildland firefighting incidents. This total is higher than in any year since 1994 when 36 firefighters died in association with wildland fires, including 14 firefighters who died on Storm King Mountain in Colorado on July 6, 1994.

According to the USFA, 20 firefighters died in seven incidents where more than one firefighter was killed. Eight Oregon firefighters were killed in a vehicle accident as they returned from fighting wildland fires; two Memphis firefighters died while fighting a fire in a business in June; two Idaho firefighters were killed in July when a wildland fire spread quickly and trapped them; two firefighters died as a result of a helicopter crash in Arizona in July; two Ohio firefighters were killed while operating at a silo fire in October; two Nevada-based firefighters were killed in an October airtanker crash in California; and two Oregon firefighters died in a helicopter crash in October.

Career firefighters, those who are employed full-time as firefighters, comprised 30 deaths (27 percent) in 2003. Volunteer, seasonal, and part-time firefighters accounted for 80 deaths. The majority of firefighter fatalities in 2003 occurred in relation to a fire or medical emergency incident. Sixty percent of the firefighters who died while on-duty in 2003 suffered fatal injuries or illnesses in emergency situations. Twenty-two firefighters died as they responded to an emergency or returned from one, many of these deaths involved vehicle collisions. Eleven deaths occurred during training.

The USFA collects and analyzes information about firefighter deaths each year to determine trends, make recommendations for further research or to propose changes in procedures that may serve to reduce fatalities in the future.

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.