NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 76

A Massachusetts firefighter was killed battling a four-alarm
house fire after helping two of his colleagues reach safety
and searching for additional people trapped inside.
(Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Other findings
In 2019, a firefighter collapsed and died at the scene of a
fire that was set on the porch of a single-family home. From
2010 through 2019, 31 firefighters (4.6 percent of all on-duty
deaths) died in connection with intentionally set fires, either
at the fire or while responding to or returning from the fire.
In 2019, one firefighter fatality was associated with a
false call. Over the past 10 years, five firefighter deaths have
resulted from false calls, including malicious false alarms
and alarm malfunctions.
The firefighters who died in 2019 ranged in age from 21 to
81, with a median age of 46.5. In firefighter deaths from 2015
through 2019, the lowest death rates were for firefighters
between the ages of 20 and 29. Their death rate was about a
quarter of the all-age average. The death rate for firefighters
aged 60 and over was almost three times the average. Firefighters aged 50 and over accounted for just over half of all
firefighter deaths over the five-year period, although they
represent only one quarter of all career and volunteer firefighters in the US.
The 25 deaths of volunteer firefighters in 2019 is the
lowest reported in all the years of this study, and represents
a sharp drop from the annual average of 36 over the previous 10 years. It is also far lower than the annual average of
67 deaths in the earliest years of this study. The 20 deaths

of career firefighters while on duty in 2019 is the third time
in the past four years that the total has been 20 or fewer. In
the earliest years of this study, the annual average number of
deaths of career firefighters while on duty was 57.

Effects of long-term exposures
While NFPA's study focuses on on-duty deaths tied to specific events that occur while firefighters are at work, the
hazards of firefighting also include long-term exposure to
carcinogens and other contaminants, as well as physical and
emotional stress and strain. While it is not possible to fully
capture the number of deaths that result from these longterm effects, there are sources to provide some insight into
the magnitude of the problem.
The Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA) has
reports on 119 firefighters and 20 EMTs and paramedics who
died by suicide in 2019. For 2019, the USFA is processing
almost a dozen fatalities that potentially qualify for federal
death benefits under the Hometown Heroes Act-deaths
that occurred within 24 hours of non-routine strenuous or
stressful physical activity. We know from research conducted
by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) that firefighters are 9 percent more likely to have a
cancer diagnosis, and 14 percent more likely to die of cancer,
than the general population. The International Association of
Fire Fighters lists more than 130 firefighter cancer deaths in
2019 on its website.
In 2018, Congress passed legislation directing the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop and

GETT Y IMAGES

left-hand turn from a stop sign. There was no mechanical
problem with the door or its latch. The victim's seatbelt was
unfastened.

76 | NFPA JOURNAL * J U L Y /A U G U S T 2 0 2 0

FFF Report_08.20 R3 DCS FINAL.indd 76

7/1/20 5:24 PM



NFPA Journal - July/August 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - July/August 2020

Contents
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - Cover1
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - Cover2
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 1
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 2
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 3
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - Contents
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 5
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 6
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 7
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 8
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 9
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 10
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 11
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 12
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 13
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 14
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 15
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 16
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 17
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 18
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 19
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 20
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 21
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 22
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 23
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 24
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 25
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 26
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 27
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 28
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 29
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 30
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 31
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 32
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 33
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 34
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 35
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 36
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 37
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 38
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 39
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 40
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 41
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 42
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 43
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 44
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 45
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 46
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 47
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 48
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 49
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 50
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 51
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 52
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 53
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 54
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 55
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 56
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 57
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 58
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 59
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 60
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 61
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 62
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 63
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 64
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 65
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 66
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 67
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 68
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 69
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 70
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 71
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 72
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 73
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 74
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 75
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 76
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 77
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 78
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 79
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - 80
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - Cover3
NFPA Journal - July/August 2020 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2024spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2023winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2023fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2023summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2023spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2022winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2022fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2022summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2022spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2021winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2021fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2021summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2021spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20200708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20200506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20200304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20200102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20191112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20190910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20190708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20190506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20190304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20190102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20181112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20180910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20180708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20180506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20180304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20180102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20171112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20170910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20170708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20170506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20170304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20161112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_201610_sprinkler
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20130708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20130506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20130304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20130102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20121112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20120910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20120708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20120506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20120304
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com