Firefighter Fatality Report: Deaths Down From 2017

ACROSS AMERICA — Firefighters represent the best of our communities across the United States, and the U.S. Fire Administration recently released its annual study to help identify strategies that could reduce the number of firefighter deaths in the future.

The yearly publication by the USFA tracks and studies the number of firefighter fatalities throughout the country. In 2018, there were 82 firefighters who died on duty, five less than in 2017.

Since 2003, firefighter fatalities statistics have included both deaths that happened in the line of duty, and also deaths resulting from a heart attack or stroke after an on-duty incident.

Out of the 82 firefighter fatalities, 44 were volunteer members, 33 were career firefighters, and five were part of wild-land suppression. The majority of the fatalities, 72 of the 82, took place in activities related to an emergency incident or at a fire scene.

Firefighters died in 34 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2018. California and Pennsylvania accounted for the highest number with seven each. Texas, Georgia, and North Carolina also all had at least five fatalities.

There was little disparity between the number of firefighter deaths that took place between "urban/suburban" and "rural" sections of the United States. The urban/suburban category accounted for 45 deaths and the rural category accounted for 37.

Here's the year by year breakdown of firefighter fatalities going back to 2003.

• 2018: 82
• 2017: 88
• 2016: 91
• 2015: 90
• 2014: 97
• 2013: 109
• 2012: 85
• 2011: 87
• 2010: 90
• 2009: 96
• 2008: 122
• 2007: 120
• 2006: 108
• 2005: 116
• 2004: 119
• 2003: 115

The full report is available on the U.S. Fire Administration's website.