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Firefighters face the potential of injury or death each time they are called on to fight fires, rescue people, or preserve property. As wildfires spread in California, firefighters are again called to action to extinguish the blazes and perform rescue activities. In 2017, 5 firefighters in California were killed while working and 2,200 sustained nonfatal injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work.
From 2013 to 2017, 174 firefighters in the United States lost their lives while working. In 2013, 34 (64 percent) of the 53 total fatal injuries to firefighters resulted from fires or explosions and another 10 fatalities (19 percent) resulted from transportation incidents. In 2017, 8 (24 percent) of the 34 total fatal injuries resulted from fires and explosions and 17 fatal injuries (50 percent) from transportation incidents.
Number of fatal occupational injuries to firefighters by selected event or exposure, private sector, federal, state and local government, 2013–17
Selected event or exposure
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Transportation incidents
10
8
8
19
17
Fires and explosions
34
8
10
1
8
All other events or exposures
9
7
11
15
9
Total
53
23
29
35
34
In 2017, firefighters incurred 15,530 occupational injury and illness cases resulting in days away from work to recuperate. Overexertion and bodily reaction accounted for 41 percent of the injuries and illnesses and 26 percent resulted from falls, slips and trips.
Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses to firefighters resulting in days away from work by selected event or exposure, private sector, state and local government, 2013–17
Selected event or exposure
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Falls, slips, trips
2,750
2,810
3,430
2,520
4,090
Overexertion and bodily reaction
7,950
6,710
6,330
6,370
6,300
All other events or exposures
3,840
4,920
3,520
3,370
5,140
Total
14,540
14,440
13,280
12,260
15,530
These data are from the Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities program and include workers in the private sector and government. We will release data for 2018 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses on November 7, 2019. 2018 fatal occupational injuries data will be released on December 17, 2019.
United States Department of Labor
