According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), their annual report on U.S. firefighter fatalities for 2017 revealed a total of 60 deaths among firefighters while on duty. This marked the lowest number recorded since 1977, when the NFPA began tracking such data, and it was the sixth time in the past seven years that the total remained under 70. The decline highlights an ongoing trend toward improved safety measures and awareness within the fire service.
Of these 60 fatalities, 32 were volunteer firefighters, 21 were career firefighters, three were federal land management employees, two were contractors working with federal or state agencies, and two were prison inmates. Both volunteer and career firefighters saw their second-lowest death totals in 2017, indicating progress in reducing risks across all types of firefighting roles.
The report also noted that 17 of the deaths occurred at the scene of fires, which was the second-lowest figure since the study started and the second year in a row with fewer than 20 fireground fatalities. This suggests that efforts to improve on-scene safety are beginning to show results.
Interestingly, in 2017, the second-largest group of deaths—11 in total—occurred during non-fire emergencies. These included five incidents involving motor vehicle crashes, three related to downed power lines, one from a fallen tree, one due to a suspicious odor, and one investigating potential flooding during a storm. Ten of these 11 victims were struck by passing vehicles, while one suffered a sudden cardiac event.
Vehicle-related incidents proved especially deadly, with 10 firefighters killed by vehicles in 2017—far exceeding the average of four per year over the previous three decades. This alarming increase underscores the growing risk firefighters face even outside traditional fire scenes.
Medical issues, including overexertion and stress, accounted for more than half of the 2017 fatalities. Out of 32 deaths in this category, 29 were sudden cardiac events, two were strokes, and one resulted from complications following a medical procedure. Though the number of cardiac deaths was below 30 for the fourth time in six years, they still made up nearly half of all on-duty fatalities, highlighting the physical toll of the job.
Despite the valuable insights provided by the NFPA report, it's important to note that a complete enumeration of all duty-related deaths remains challenging. Ongoing improvements in data collection and reporting will be essential to better understand and address the evolving risks faced by firefighters today.
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