NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 74
NFPA Research The Reports
strokes and one experienced the onset
of internal bleeding.
None of the structures in which firefighters
died were reported to have
automatic fire suppression systems.
Ten firefighters were killed while
responding to or returning from alarms
in 2021, the fourth time in the past five
years that this total was 10 or fewer.
Five of these 10 firefighters suffered
fatal cardiac events and five were
killed in crashes.
Ten firefighters died at nonfire emergencies,
including nine while operating
at motor vehicle crashes and one who
fell from a bridge while searching for a
reported brush fire.
Six deaths occurred during training
activities, with sudden cardiac death
claiming the lives of all six. Two of the
victims were recruits and one was a
probationary firefighter-all three were
in their 20s.
Sixteen firefighter fatalities in 2021
involved a variety of normal station,
administrative, or maintenance activities.
More than half were due to sudden
cardiac death.
Two firefighters died by suicide while
on duty, and one firefighter was murdered
in a case of workplace violence.
Overall, overexertion, stress, and
medical issues accounted for more
than half of the nonCOVID deaths (40
deaths) in 2021, including 29 sudden
cardiac deaths.
Sixteen firefighters died in vehiclerelated
incidents, including 10 who
died in vehicle crashes and six who
were struck by vehicles.
Firefighters who died on the job in
2021 ranged in age from 20 to 89, with
a median age of 46.5 years. An unusual
pattern appeared in 2021, where a
significant proportion of younger
74 | NFPA JOURNAL * WINTER 2022
firefighters died of cardiac or other
medical issues. Reporting on several of
these deaths is still incomplete, so these
numbers may change as more information
becomes available.
The firefighters who died last year
included 35 volunteer firefighters, 27
career firefighters, seven contractors
with state and federal land management
agencies, and one member of an
industrial fire department.
In addition to these deaths, a firefighter
was killed in an apparatus crash
in the US Virgin Islands.
More than 80 firefighter cancer deaths
occurred in 2021, according to the International
Association of Fire Fighters (iaff.org).
According to the Firefighter Behavioral
Health Alliance (ffbha.org), 89
firefighters and 16 EMTs and paramedics
died by suicide in 2021.
SELECTED 2021 LINE-OF-DUTY FIREFIGHTER FATALITIES
ARKANSAS
Battalion chief found
dead in command vehicle
at structure fire
In February, a battalion chief died of a
cerebral hemorrhage at the scene of a
structure fire.
Fire companies were dispatched at
10:52 a.m. to a reported residential
structure fire. Arriving companies found
heavy smoke coming from the one-story
home and reported a working fire. The
41-year-old battalion chief arrived and
took command of the incident with
approximately 20 firefighters working to
contain the fire. The fire was reported
under control in 30 minutes.
During salvage and overhaul operations,
crews discovered the battalion
chief unresponsive in his command
vehicle. Life-saving measures were
immediately taken, and the chief was
transported to the hospital, where
he later died. The medical examiner
reported the cause of death as an acute
intravascular cerebral hemorrhage.
CALIFORNIA
Firefighter succumbs to
COVID virus after contact
with infected patient
A 48-year-old firefighter died of complications
from COVID after coming in
contact with an infected patient.
The firefighter was part of a crew
that responded to a request for medical
aid. The arriving crew confirmed
the presence of a patient who had
recently tested positive for the COVID19
virus. The crew was exposed to the
virus during the course of treatment
and transport of the patient, and the
firefighter became sick soon after. The
firefighter died in May, approximately
six weeks after contracting the illness.
COLORADO
Fire chief dies of heart attack
at vehicle crash scene
In March, a 57-year-old fire chief died
of an apparent heart attack while
responding to a motor vehicle crash.
Arriving crews discovered a vehicle
had rolled down a 20-foot (6-meter)
embankment. During the course of
extricating the victims, the chief made
several trips up and down the embankment.
On his last trip down, he turned
to speak with the other rescuers when
he collapsed. The chief was unresponsive
as the rescuers attempted life-saving
measures. He was transported to the
hospital where he was pronounced dead
of an apparent heart attack.
NEW MEXICO
Smokejumper killed in hard landing
during wildfire response
In June, a 36-year-old smokejumper/
firefighter died from injuries sustained
while jumping from a plane during a
wildfire response.
At approximately 2:46 p.m., the incident
commander of a large wildland
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NFPA Journal - Winter 2022
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NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - Cover1
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - Cover2
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 1
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