NFPA Journal - July/August 2018 - 89

Selected 2017 U.S. Firefighter Fatalities (continued)
the largest share of deaths in any given year, this
compares to the earliest years of the study when
an average of 60 firefighters each year suffered
sudden cardiac deaths while on duty. In addition,
the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) is following
up on the deaths of more than 20 other firefighters who reportedly died within 24 hours
of non-routine strenuous and stressful physical
activity, potentially qualifying them for Federal
benefits.

Vehicle-related deaths
In 2017, 10 firefighters were struck by vehicles and
eight died in vehicle crashes. This is very different from what we typically observe; the 10 deaths
of firefighters struck by vehicles is far higher than
the average of four deaths a year over the previous 30 years. Only twice before has the total been
10 or higher. In contrast, crash fatalities, which
used to consistently account for the highest share
of traumatic deaths annually, are below 10 for the
fourth time in the past seven years.
Five of the firefighters who were struck by vehicles were at the scene of motor vehicle crashes. A
firefighter directing traffic on a dark road at the
scene of a motor vehicle crash was struck by a
driver who did not see him until it was too late
to avoid him. A firefighter guiding an engine that
was backing along the road at the scene of a crash
was struck by the engine; it was not clear if he
tripped or fell beneath the vehicle. A firefighter
who was returning to his vehicle after operating
at a crash scene was killed by a vehicle that lost
control while traveling at a high rate of speed on
a dark, wet, slippery road. A firefighter reportedly walking down the middle of the road after
finishing up at a scene was struck by a passing
vehicle; the driver was not cited. And a firefighter retrieving his gear from his vehicle was
struck by another responding firefighter who was
intoxicated.
Three firefighters were struck by vehicles at two
incidents involving downed wires. In one incident, two firefighters were killed when they and
another firefighter were standing off the road but
were struck by a vehicle that veered off the main
road; the driver was intoxicated. In the other incident involving downed wires, the victim was
standing in front of a parked fire department
vehicle that was struck in a chain reaction crash
when a driver failed to stop for another vehicle
that had slowed at the scene.
In the remaining two incidents, a firefighter
who was conducting a pre-dawn check of flooding
conditions was struck and killed by a passing driver
traveling at a high rate of speed. At the scene of a
downed tree, a firefighter was killed when a driver
struck his vehicle, which then struck a brush truck
that pinned the firefighter underneath; all emergency vehicles at the scene had lights operating and

issue and dump truck crash.
Upon arrival, firefighters found
a dump truck tangled in the
power lines at a "Y" intersection. The intersection was
not blocked but the power
lines were crossed over both
roadways.
Nearly an hour after arriving
on scene, the power company
arrived. Three firefighters
wearing reflective vests were
standing off the roadway in
a gravel area in the middle of
the "Y" intersection awaiting
direction from the incident
commander who was conferring with power company
representatives.
A small car approached the
scene and left the road, moving
into the gravel area in the "Y"
intersection and striking the
three firefighters before fleeing.
Two firefighters suffered
severe blunt force trauma and
were pronounced dead at the
scene. One was a 53-yearold firefighter and the other
an 80-year-old deputy chief.
The third firefighter, a 15-year
veteran of the department,
suffered two broken ribs and a
bruised leg.
The 31-year old driver of
the vehicle was apprehended
approximately six miles (9.6
kilometers) from the scene of
the crash and was charged with
driving under the influence.
CARDIAC ARREST
FOLLOWING FIREFIGHTING
OPERATIONS
A 42-year-old firefighter collapsed into cardiac arrest while
cleaning firefighting equipment after a structure fire.
The department had
responded to a fire in a wood-

120+

the number of firefighter cancer deaths
reported to the International Association of
Fire Fighters in 2017
frame pole barn at 2:19 a.m.
The cause of the fire was listed
as unintentional. A heat lamp
had been placed too close to
combustible materials in the
barn to keep several pets warm
during the night.
The victim, who had a
year of experience on the
department, had arrived on
one of the first fire companies on scene. He performed
suppression operations in
a full structural firefighting

protective ensemble including self-contained breathing
apparatus (SCBA). The incident commander rotated the
victim's crew into rehabilitation where the victim, along
with other members of his
company, swapped out their
SCBA cylinders and rested for
approximately 10-15 minutes.
After rehabilitation, the victim
donned his full structural firefighting protective ensemble
with SCBA and performed
overhaul. After the incident
was mitigated, he returned to
the firehouse and began cleaning equipment and tools and
preparing the apparatus for the
next emergency response.
After saying goodbye to the
victim, the chief left the firehouse at approximately 5:30
a.m. and went home. Some-

the number who died
as a result of sudden
cardiac arrest
time around 9:15 a.m., the
victim's fiancé called the chief
and fellow firefighters stating
the victim had not returned
home from the fire. Firefighters
found the victim dead on the
apparatus floor.
TRAPPED DURING WILDLAND
FIREFIGHTING OPERATION
During a multi-day deployment
on a large wildland fire, a task
force of several engine companies was ordered to establish a
fire break with two bulldozers
and several helicopters.
As the dozers finished up the
fire line, the group began to
re-establish the anchor point.
A lookout point was established and a safety zone was
identified in the burned area.
As a hose line crew advanced
along the dozer line, they
extinguished spot fires near
the edges. Crews reported a
flare-up in the unburned area.
The firefighter operating the
nozzle of a 700-foot (213meter) hand line noticed a spot
fire flare-up approximately 20
feet (6 meters) from the fire
line in the tall unburned fuel.
The 32-year-old firefighter
reached the small fire when
additional spot fires ignited
around him, trapping him. The
firefighter requested air support using his portable radio
and began traveling parallel to
the recently cut fire line, but
his escape route was cut off.
The safety spotter called out

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - July/August 2018