1. FIREFIGHTER DEATH AND INJURY STATISTICS
US and NY STATE
2016

2. The National Picture: analysis of 2016 deaths source: NFPA, “FIREFIGHTER FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES ” (June 2017)

3. Note: There are always discrepancies between NFPA and USFA casualty numbers due to differences defining “firefighters” and “line-of-duty”
We generally use NFPA’s figures

4. US Firefighting Deaths (Includes personnel such as military, contractors, wildland crews, etc.)

5. US Firefighter Deaths: Career & Volunteer 2006 - 2016 (excludes non-FD personnel)

6. US Firefighting Deaths by Type of Duty, 2016 source: NFPA

7. US Firefighting Deaths by Cause of Injury, 2016

8. US Firefighting Deaths by Nature of Injury, 2016

9. US Firefighter Deaths by Age & Cause of Death, 2016

10. US Firefighter Deaths in Motor Vehicle Accidents, 2006-2016

11. Background Information on US Firefighter Deaths
Source:
National Fire Protection Association

12. 2016 US Firefighter Fatalities
69 firefighters died while on duty.
“The largest share of deaths occurred while firefighters were responding to and returning from alarms” (17 deaths)
“The 15 fireground deaths in 2016 is… the lowest number of fireground deaths that we have observed since we began doing this study in 1977.” (Previous low; 21 in 2012)
-- NFPA

13. 2016 Firefighting Fatalities Who is dying?
Career firefighters (defined as those who are employed full-time as firefighters) suffered 19 deaths.
Volunteer and part-time paid firefighters accounted for 39 deaths.
11 additional deaths (8 were employees of federal land management agencies, 1 was a contractor with a state land management agency, 1 was a member of an industrial fire brigade, and 1 was a prison inmate) were reported by NFPA.
The median age of firefighters who died on duty was 47 years.

14. 2016 Firefighter Fatalities Why are we dying
2016 Firefighter Fatalities Why are we dying? Stress and overexertion are still leading killers
The largest single cause (42%) of firefighter deaths in 2016 were medical - sudden cardiac vascular or cardiac events.
“Of the 29 deaths in this category, 26 were classified as sudden cardiac deaths (usually heart attacks) and one to a stroke. The two suicide deaths… fall into this category as well.” – NFPA
The second largest cause of fatal injury to firefighters involved vehicles.
“Ten of the 11 firefighters who died in road crashes were killed while responding to incidents and one was killed while returning from an incident.” – NFPA

15. 2016 Firefighter Fatalities Where are we dying
2016 Firefighter Fatalities Where are we dying? Nearly one quarter (17) of firefighter fatalities occurred either en route or returning from emergency calls firefighters were killed on the fireground firefighters died at non-fire emergencies, including 5 at medical emergencies firefighters died during training exercises, 7 of those were sudden cardiac deaths.

16. 2016 Firefighter Fatalities Where are we dying?
Seven of the firefighters killed on firegrounds occurred at five structure fires, including one multiple-death incident where three firefighters perished in a floor collapse.
Six of the deaths were at six wildfire locations, and two deaths were at two vehicle fires.
The seventeen non-emergency deaths include six cardiac deaths, four vehicle accidents, two suicides and one firefighter who was shot by another firefighter.

17. New York State Line of Duty Deaths and Injuries 2016
Note: Injury statistics are from the NYS Fire Incident Reporting System (report IIC series). Since participation is voluntary, the numbers are incomplete and reflect only reported casualties.
FDNY injuries are not included here. There was one FDNY fatality in 2016.
Fatality information taken from USFA.

18. New York State Line of Duty Deaths, 2006-2016

19. 2016 NY State Line-of-duty deaths
Theodore A. Stafford, 05/02/16, age 73, Sag Harbor FD
Firefighter Stafford died at home shortly after responding to a fire call. The nature and cause of the fatal injury is still undetermined.
John Scott, 07/20/16, age 71, Tioga County Bureau of Fire
Fire Coordinator Scott succumbed to injuries sustained when he was struck by a vehicle while he was performing maintenance on a radio tower.
Keith Lane, 08/27/16, age 53, Oceanside FD
Firefighter Lane died at home of an apparent heart attack shortly after responding to the scene of a motor vehicle accident.
Michael J Fahy, 09/23/16, age 44, FDNY
Battalion Chief Fahy was struck and killed by debris when a private residence suspected of manufacturing illegal drugs exploded.
Merle L. Nell, 11/26/16, age 78, Volunteer Fire Company of Vernon
Fire Police Captain Nell became ill while working at a mutual aid fire and passed away in the hospital. The nature and cause have not been reported.
Arthur “Art” Brault, 12/20/16, age 54, Cumberland Head Volunteer FD
Fire Chief Brault was found deceased in his bed after responding to a structure fire earlier in the evening.

20. Online map 2009 to present with USFA list of line-of-duty deaths
Right-click map below, then “Open Hyperlink” to see where NYS LODDs occurred (with names, dates, details)

21. 2016 NYS Fire Service Injuries by Activity (if reported)

22. 2016 NYS Fire Service Injuries by Type of Duty (if reported)

23. 2016 NYS Fire Service Injuries by Cause (if reported)

24. 2016 NYS Fire Service Injuries by Symptom (if reported)

25. 2016 NYS Firefighter Injuries by Location (if reported)

26. For more information:
Firefighter Fatalities in the United States (USFA)
Firefighter Fatalities in the United States (NFPA)
Firefighter Injuries in the United States (NFPA)
Patterns of Firefighter Fireground Injuries (NFPA)
What’s Changed Over the Past 30 Years? (NFPA, 2007)
Firefighter Fatalities and Injuries resource page (NFPA)

27. Slides based on: “Firefighter Fatalities in the US – 2016” by NFPA Casualty Report IIC Report 2.3 series by NYS OFPC USFA provisional reports on firefighter fatalities Compiled by Dan Kelly & Diana Robinson Thank you, and be safe!