The number of on-duty firefighter fatalities has declined for the second year in a row.
Eighty-seven firefighters from 31 states lost their lives in 83 fatal incidents in 2010, according to the USFA’s annual firefighter fatalities report.
In 2009, 90 firefighters died in the line of duty.
According to the USFA, the average number of annual on-duty firefighter deaths was 112 during the previous six-year period between 2004 and 2009.
Illinois suffered the highest number of losses with nine fatalities, while New York and Ohio had the next highest totals of eight deaths each.
The report also provided specific data on the types of fatalities that took place:
- Of the 87 fallen firefighters, 56 were volunteers, 28 were career firefighters and three were wildland agency firefighters.
- Eleven firefighters died in wildland incidents, tying 2007 for the lowest number of annual wildland firefighting deaths in the past decade.
- Activities related to emergency incidents claimed 48 of the firefighters.
- Twenty-two firefighters died while engaging in activities at the scene of a fire.
- Sixteen firefighters died while en route to or returning from 15 emergency incidents, including eight who died from heart attacks and one who died from stroke.
- Heart attacks remained the leading cause of death, accounting for 50 LODDs.
- Twelve firefighters died during training activities.
- Fifteen firefighters died in the hours following on-duty activity.
For 34 years, the USFA has compiled data and conducted analysis on firefighter fatalities to improve safety.
“The ultimate objective of this effort is to reduce the number of firefighter deaths through an increased awareness and understanding of their causes and how they can be prevented,” the report said.
The final section of the report includes details on each of the firefighters who died, along with information about the incidents leading to the fatalities.