NFPA Journal - July/August 2017 - 81

of deaths per year while responding to or returning from alarms was 36.
The next largest share occurred while firefighters were operating at fires. The 15 fire ground
deaths in 2016 is by far the lowest number of fire
ground deaths that we have observed since we
began conducting this study in 1977. The lowest
number previously reported was 21 deaths at fires
in 2012. In the early 1970s, the number of fire
ground deaths averaged more than 80 per year.
Seven of the 15 fire ground deaths occurred at five
structure fires. The largest multiple-death fire in
2016 resulted in the deaths of three firefighters in
a floor collapse above a basement fire. In addition,
there were six deaths at six wildland fires and two
at two vehicle fires.
Ten firefighters died at non-fire emergencies:
five at medical emergencies, four at motor vehicle
crashes, and one at the scene of a dock collapse.
Five of the 10 suffered sudden cardiac deaths, two
were shot while attempting to enter homes on
EMS calls, one was struck by a passing vehicle,
one suffered a stroke, and one died of complications shortly after surgery for injuries suffered in
a fall on ice.
Ten deaths occurred during training activities,
including seven caused by sudden cardiac death.
Three of these firefighters were attending training sessions or meetings at the station; one was
a recruit involved in search and rescue training;
another was a recruit finishing up training on
an obstacle course; one collapsed while running
during physical fitness training; and one collapsed
at a pumper relay drill. The other three training
deaths resulted from traumatic injuries. One of
these firefighters fell from a helicopter during
rescue hoist training; another was involved in a
motor vehicle crash while test driving a tanker
before a drill; and the third fell from a personal
watercraft during water rescue training and died
of his injuries.
The remaining 17 firefighters died while
involved in a variety of non-emergency-related
on-duty activities. Two firefighters died by suicide
while on duty. One firefighter was unintentionally
shot at the station by another firefighter, though
criminal charges were filed against the shooter.
Six of the fatalities were due to sudden cardiac
death: five of these six firefighters were engaged
in normal administrative or station duties, and
one was doing maintenance on an ambulance.
Four firefighters were killed in three separate
crashes: two while on patrol for wildland fires
sparked by lightning, one while en route to a
parade, and one while returning from a police
graduation where he had represented the fire
department. One firefighter suffered an arterial
gas embolism while diving in a body recovery
operation. One firefighter was run over by a fire
department vehicle that he was helping to guide

Selected 2016 U.S.
Firefighter Fatality Incidents
These incident summaries illustrate some of the issues and
concerns in firefighter safety
and health. When there is an
NFPA standard applicable to an
incident, that document is identified. By doing so, NFPA is not
intending to assert causation,
assign responsibility, or offer an
opinion as to compliance with
those standards. The intent is
to provide a reference to inform
and educate readers about
specific topics. Free access to
all NFPA standards is available
at nfpa.org.
SUICIDE BY GUNSHOT
On January 7, an on-duty,
51-year-old fire chief with 34
years of service drove his
department vehicle alone to a
secluded rural area. An investigation revealed that he died
from a self-inflicted gunshot
wound to the head. A note was
left, but its contents were not
revealed.
Applicable standard:
NFPA 1500, Fire Department
Occupational Safety and Health
Program, 2013 edition, Chapter 11.
SHOT RESPONDING TO CALL
On January 22 at 5 a.m., the
dispatch center received a 911
call for a person suffering from
a seizure, and fire companies
were immediately dispatched.
Snowfall slowed the response,
and the first responder on the
scene was a 29-year-old fire
lieutenant with nine years of
service who responded from
home. He entered the residence
and was escorted by the wife
of the seizure victim to their
bedroom. As the lieutenant
stood in the doorway assessing
the situation, the seizure victim
drew a .40 caliber handgun and
shot the lieutenant five times. A
neighbor on the premises notified the dispatch center that
the lieutenant had been shot
and the dispatcher instructed
the caller to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
The dispatcher then warned
the remaining responding
personnel to stay outside the
building until it was secured
by police. As soon as it was
secured, an advanced life
support unit made up of a paramedic, an emergency medical
technician, and a firefighter
took over CPR on the lieutenant
and initiated the use of a bag
valve mask for oxygenation
which they continued until they
were at the hospital. They also
administered two intravenous
lines and an electrocardiogram.

The lieutenant was transported
to a hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
According to a toxicology
report, the shooter, who was
charged with manslaughter,
was under the influence of
a high level of cocaine. The
shooter told investigators the
reason he shot the fire lieutenant was that he entered the
house without identifying himself or wearing a uniform.
CRASH DURING RESPONSE
On March 12 at 9:30 a.m., fire
dispatch received a mutual aid
request for assistance at a fire
in a two-story, wood-frame,
single-family dwelling.

the number of firefighters from 2007
through 2016 who have
died in connection with
intentionally set fires,
either at the fire or
while responding to or
returning from the fire
A 68-year-old firefighter, the
sole occupant of a mobile air
unit, sustained fatal injuries
when the truck he was driving
left the road at an intersection
for unknown reasons. After
striking the curb and a street
sign, the vehicle continued
traveling close to 700 feet (213
meters) before stopping on an
embankment in a field along a
drainage ditch.
An off-duty nurse and two
civilians provided aid before
emergency medical service
(EMS) personnel arrived at the
scene. The firefighter was transported to a hospital where he
was pronounced dead a short
time later. The death was determined to be due to blunt force
trauma to the chest.
Applicable standards:
NFPA 1002, Fire Apparatus
Driver/Operator Professional
Qualifications, 2017 edition,
Section 4.3; NFPA 1451, Fire and
Emergency Service Vehicle Operations Training Program, 2013
edition.
ASPHYXIATED IN OXYGENDEPLETED ENVIRONMENT
On March 20, a 33-year-old
member of a steel plant's
industrial fire brigade was

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - July/August 2017