Quincy, MA — Eighty-nine firefighters died whereas on obligation or inside 24 hours of obligation final 12 months, in response to the National Fire Protection Association’s annual report.
The complete marks an 8.2% lower from the 97 firefighter fatalities recorded in 2022, but is the second highest since 2013, when 98 on-duty deaths had been recorded. (Prior to 2022, NFPA didn’t document deaths that occurred inside 24 hours of obligation until victims expressed a particular bodily grievance whereas on the job.)
The report is predicated on knowledge gathered from six completely different firefighting populations, together with profession and volunteer firefighters serving in native hearth departments; civilian firefighters working at army installations; and seasonal, full-time and contract staff of state and federal companies with firefighting obligations.
Of the 89 firefighters, 80 had been municipal firefighters and 9 had been nonmunicipal firefighters.
Other findings:
- The largest share of the deaths (32) occurred amongst firefighters working at fires or explosions.
- For the second straight 12 months, 36 died from sudden cardiac arrest.
- 19 of the deaths occurred whereas responding to or coming back from alarms.
- 18 of the deaths resulted from automobile crashes – probably the most since 2008.
- Seven firefighters had been fatally injured in struck-by incidents.
“While the overall downward trend in the annual number of firefighter fatalities is an encouraging indication that injury prevention efforts through the years are having an impact, there is a still a clear need for continuing attention to firefighter safety and health,” mentioned Richard Campbell, senior analysis analyst at NFPA. “Sudden cardiac deaths remain a critical concern, with the inclusion of deaths within 24 hours of duty bringing the issue into sharper focus.”
