USFS releases provisional firefighter fatality statistics for 2010

The U. S. Fire Administration released their provisional on-duty firefighter fatality statistics for 2010, concluding that there were 85 deaths, a six percent decrease from 2010. The report includes nine fatalities associated with wildland fires.

Heart attacks accounted for 56 percent, with vehicle collisions causing another 13 percent.

YEAR-TO-DATE SUMMARY STATISTICS (PROVISIONAL)
ON-DUTY FIREFIGHTER FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES
Date Range 1/1/2010 to 12/31/2010

Number of On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities: 85
Count of Hometown Heroes: 15 

Classification: 

55 Volunteer 64.7%
28 Career 32.9%
1 Wildland Full-Time 1.17%
1 Paid-on-Call 1.17% 

Number of Multiple Firefighter Fatality Incidents: 4
Number of Firefighter Fatalities Associated with Wildland Incidents: 9 

Type of Duty: 

20 On-Scene Fire 23.5%
19 Other On-Duty 22.3%
16 Responding 18.8%
16 After 18.8%
7 Training 8.23%
4 On-Scene Non-Fire 4.70%
1 Returning 1.17%
1 Other 1.17%
1 Unknown 1.17% 

Percent of Fatalities Related to Emergency Duty: 48.2
Firefighter fatalities associated with Suspicious/Incendiary incidents: 0
Type of Incident: 

41 Not Incident Related 48.2%
20 Structure Fire 23.5%
8 Wildland 9.41%
5 Other 5.88%
3 MVA 3.52%
3 Rescue/Extrication 3.52%
3 Unknown 3.52%
1 EMS 1.17%
1 Tech Rescue 1.17%
Cause of Fatal Injury: 

52 Stress/Overexertion 61.1%
11 Vehicle Collision 12.9%
5 Struck by 5.88%
5 Other 5.88%
5 Caught/Trapped 5.88%
4 Fall 4.70%
2 Collapse 2.35%
1 Unknown 1.17% 

Nature of Fatal Injury: 

48 Heart Attack 56.4%
20 Trauma 23.5%
4 Asphyxiation 4.70%
4 Other 4.70%
3 Crushed 3.52%
3 CVA 3.52%
1 Burns 1.17%
1 Heat Exhaustion 1.17%
1 Unknown 1.17% 

Age of Firefighter When the Fatal Injury Was Sustained: 

2 - Under 21
5 - 21 to 25
4 - 26 to 30
12 - 31 to 40
16 - 41 to 50
20 - 51 to 60
25 - 61 and Over
1 - Unknown 

Percent of Firefighter Fatalities Under Age 40: 23.5% 

Type of Activity: 

41 Not On Scene 48.2%
16 Responding 18.8%
7 Unknown 8.23%
6 S&R 7.05%
5 Advance Hose Lines 5.88%
5 Unknown 5.88%
3 IC 3.52%
1 Pump Ops 1.17%
1 Scene Safety 1.17% 

Time of Fatal Injury: 

2 0100-0259
0 0300-0459
6 0500-0659
1 0700-0859
4 0900-1059
7 1100-1259
9 1300-1459
15 1500-1659
6 1700-1859
5 1900-2059
11 2100-2259
3 2300-0059
16 Unknown 

Month of the Year: 

6 January 7.05%
4 February 4.70%
11 March 12.9%
6 April 7.05%
6 May 7.05%
5 June 5.88%
11 July 12.9%
4 August 4.70%
9 September 10.5%
8 October 9.41%
8 November 9.41%
7 December 8.23% 

Firefighter Fatalities by State by Location of Fire Service Organization: 

3 Arkansas 3.52%
2 Arizona 2.35%
3 California 3.52%
4 Connecticut 4.70%
1 Delaware 1.17%
1 Georgia 1.17%
1 Iowa 1.17%
1 Idaho 1.17%
9 Illinois 10.5%
4 Indiana 4.70%
5 Kansas 5.88%
2 Kentucky 2.35%
2 Massachusetts 2.35%
1 Maine 1.17%
1 Michigan 1.17%
2 Missouri 2.35%
1 Mississippi 1.17%
3 North Carolina 3.52%
2 New Jersey 2.35%
8 New York 9.41%
8 Ohio 9.41%
1 Oklahoma 1.17%
7 Pennsylvania 8.23%
3 South Carolina 3.52%
1 Tennessee 1.17%
2 Texas 2.35%
3 Virginia 3.52%
1 Vermont 1.17%
1 Washington 1.17%
1 Wisconsin 1.17%
1 West Virginia 1.17% 

Firefighter Fatalities by State by Location of Fatal Incident: 

2 Arkansas 2.35%
3 Arizona 3.52%
3 California 3.52%
4 Connecticut 4.70%
1 Delaware 1.17%
1 Georgia 1.17%
1 Iowa 1.17%
1 Idaho 1.17%
9 Illinois 10.5%
3 Indiana 3.52%
5 Kansas 5.88%
2 Kentucky 2.35%
2 Massachusetts 2.35%
1 Maine 1.17%
1 Michigan 1.17%
2 Missouri 2.35%
1 Mississippi 1.17%
3 North Carolina 3.52%
2 New Jersey 2.35%
8 New York 9.41%
9 Ohio 10.5%
1 Oklahoma 1.17%
7 Pennsylvania 8.23%
3 South Carolina 3.52%
1 Tennessee 1.17%
2 Texas 2.35%
3 Virginia 3.52%
1 Vermont 1.17%
1 Washington 1.17%
1 Wisconsin 1.17%
1 West Virginia 1.17%

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.