NFPA Journal - Spring 2024 - 67

construction. It was part of a block of
four rowhouses.
Detection Systems and
Suppression Systems
There was no alarm system. No information
was reported on automatic
suppression equipment.
Fire Origin and Path
This was an incendiary fire. The origin
was not reported.
Contributing Factors and
Victim Locations
In addition to the firefighters who were
killed, one firefighter was injured.
Nonstructural Fires
Wildland/New Mexico
Month and Time
July, 7:22 p.m.
Number of Deaths
Four (one firefighter and three
sheriff's officers)
Setting
A helicopter left its home base to
respond to a wildfire and assist with
bucket drops and other support for fire
crews on the ground. After performing
approximately 20 bucket drops, the crew
returned to the staging airport to refuel,
then took off to return to home base.
Climate
Local temperature was 81 degrees F (27
degrees C), wind was 13 mph (11 knots),
and visibility was 10 miles (16 kilometers).
Fire Origin and Path
No information reported.
Factors Hindering Occupant Escape
The helicopter had made more than
20 water drops on the East Mesa Fire
throughout the day. The cause of the
crash is under investigation.
Wildland/California
Month and Time
July, 2:15 p.m.
Number of Deaths
Four
Setting
Wildfire
Climate
The fire occurred during extreme drought
conditions and high temperatures with
daytime highs in the triple digits. Dry
thunderstorms were occurring.
Factors Hindering Occupant Escape
Along with the deaths there were 12 injuries
involving firefighters and civilians.
The McKinney Fire was the deadliest wildfire
in California in 2022, and the second
most-destructive of the year. Fuel for the
fire included vegetation, grass, and twofoot-high
brush with a buildup of leaves
and twigs. The fire burned 60,138 acres,
destroyed at least 185 structures, and
damaged a number of other commercial
and residential properties.
NFPA.ORG/
FIREFIGHTERINJURIES
Read the complete report
on firefighter injuries in
the U.S. in 2022.
REPORT SUMMARY
United States Firefighter
Injuries in 2022
THE YEAR'S TOTAL NUMBER OF INJURIES
WAS THE HIGHEST SINCE 2015
By Richard Campbell and Shelby Hall
One firefighter died and several were injured in a 2022 building collapse in Philadelphia.
I
n a new report, NFPA
estimates that 65,650
nonfatal firefighter injuries
occurred in the line of
duty in 2022, an 8 percent
increase over the 60,750 injuries reported
for 2021. The 2022 injury total was also
the highest since an estimated 68,085
injuries in 2015. The report includes
injuries incurred during several types of
duty: at the fireground, during training
activities, nonfire emergencies, responding
to or returning from incidents, and
performing other duties.
An estimated 13,675 injuries, or 21 percent
of all firefighter injuries, resulted
in lost time. Since 1981, when firefighter
injury data was first collected for this
report, the annual number of firefighter
injuries has shown a fairly consistent
downward trend. While this decline is
encouraging, this research indicates that
firefighter injury and illness continue to
represent a substantial problem, not only
for firefighters and their families but also
for the cities and towns that bear the
financial burden of the expenses related
to injuries and illnesses.
As is generally the case, the largest
share of injuries in 2022 occurred on the
fireground, accounting for 21,325 injuries,
or almost one-third of the injury total.
The major types of injury that occurred
during fireground operations were strains
and sprains (36 percent of the injuries),
wounds, cuts, bleeding, and bruises (13
percent), smoke or gas inhalation (7 percent),
and thermal stress (7 percent).
NFPA .ORG/JOURNAL * NFPA JOURNAL | 67
ELIZABETH ROBERTSON/THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER VIA AP, FILE

http://www.NFPA.ORG/FIREFIGHTERINJURIES http://www.NFPA.ORG/FIREFIGHTERINJURIES http://www.NFPA.ORG/JOURNAL

NFPA Journal - Spring 2024

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