This is a message from the FEMA's US Fire Administration.

Release No.: 02-004
Release Date: January 10, 2002

USFA RELEASES PRELIMINARY FIREFIGHTER FATALITY STATISTICS FOR 2001

EMMITSBURG, Md. - The United States Fire Administration (USFA) announced
today that 441 firefighters died while on-duty in the United States in 2001.
This total, which is more than four and one-half times the average annual
number of firefighter deaths for the last decade, includes 343 firefighters
lost at the World Trade Center on September 11. The loss represents the
worst total since the USFA began tracking firefighter fatalities in 1977.
USFA is a part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"2001 was a tragic year for America’s fire service," R. David Paulson,
United States Fire Administrator, said. "In addition to the many local
heroes who died serving their communities nationwide, the eyes of the world
turned to New York City on September 11."

"The USFA is committed to helping firefighters and fire departments respond
more safely to emergencies that occur in their communities. Terrorism has
changed our world forever but the traditional killers of firefighters are
still around."

In 2001, firefighter’s fatalities were reported in 86 communities in 33
states. These totals are provisional and may change as additional
information about firefighter fatalities is received.

The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11 that claimed
the lives of 343 members of the Fire Department City of New York (FDNY) is
the worst single incident loss of firefighter lives in history.

There were eight incidents in 2001 where more than one firefighter was
killed; two of these tragedies occurred in New York City. In addition to the
World Trade Center losses, three firefighters were killed in the explosion
of a hardware store in New York City on Father’s Day. Other firefighters
lost during the line of duty include the following:

- Four wildland firefighters were killed in July when they were trapped by
rapid-fire progress in a forest fire in Washington State.
- Three firefighters were killed in the crash of a firefighting helicopter
in Montana during August.
- Two firefighters were killed when two firefighting aircraft collided in
midair while fighting a wildfire in California during August.
- A total of 14 firefighters died in association with wildfire incidents.
- Two Illinois firefighters were killed when they were trapped in the
basement of a burning structure in February.
- Two Missouri firefighters were killed when they were trapped by rapid-fire
progress in a residential fire in March.
- Two Pennsylvania firefighters drowned as they attempted to recover the
body of a boater.
- 79 single firefighter fatality incidents.

On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities
(1977-2001)

Year Number of Deaths

2001 441

2000 102

1999 112

1998 91

1997 94

1996 95

1995 96

1994 104

1993 77

1992 75

1991 109

1990 108

1989 119

1988 136

1987 131

1986 121

1985 126

1984 119

1983 113

1982 125

1981 135

1980 140

1979 126

1978 171

1977 157

Career firefighters, those who are employed full-time as firefighters,
comprised 370 deaths (83.9 percent) in 2001. Volunteer, seasonal, and
part-time firefighters accounted for 71 deaths. Twelve of the 71 were
seasonal or part-time wildland firefighters.

The vast majority of firefighter fatalities in 2001 occurred on the scene of
a fire incident with 384 deaths in the category (343 were the result of the
World Trade Center collapse). The balance of fatalities occurred as follows:

- Twenty firefighters died as they responded to an emergency or returned
from one; many of these deaths involve vehicle collisions.
- Eleven deaths occurred during training.
- Three firefighters died at the scene of non-fire emergencies such as the
two Pennsylvania firefighters who drowned during a water recovery.
- One firefighter died of a heart attack just after the conclusion of an
emergency incident.
- Twenty-two firefighters engaged in other fire department duties at the
time of their death occurred in 2001.
- An Ohio firefighter struck and killed by a falling section of a tree while
testing fire hydrants is an example of this type of incident.

2001 Fatalities by Type of Duty

Duty Deaths % of Total

Fireground Operations 384 87.1%

Other On-Duty 22 5.0%

Responding/Returning from Alarm 20 4.5%

Training 11 2.5%

Non-Fire Emergencies 3 0.7%

After an Incident 1 0.2%


Heart attacks continue to be a leading cause of firefighter deaths, killing
39 firefighters in 2001. The 39 deaths represent 8.8 percent of the 2001
total. This percentage rises to 40 percent when the massive number of FDNY
firefighters is excluded from the calculation.

The largest number of firefighter fatalities by month occurred in September
with 352 deaths. The lowest number of firefighter fatalities by month
occurred in November and December with three deaths in each month.

The USFA contacts state fire marshals at the beginning of each year to
verify the names of firefighters reported to have died on-duty during the
previous year and expects to have the annual fatality report completed by
early June.