Accident News Headlines

Firefighters Killed In Service Around The Nation Including New York

In 2005, there were 4 multiple-firefighter fatality incidents. Two New York City firefighters died in January when rapid fire progress forced them to jump from a fire-involved structure; 3 firefighters were killed in the crash of a helicopter in Texas in March as they assisted with a controlled burn; 2 Wyoming firefighters died in a residential structure fire in April; and 3 firefighters were killed in the crash of an air tanker in California.

Additionally, the New York City Fire Department suffered a third firefighter fatality on the same day as the January incident cited above, at another incident scene. The Memphis, Tennessee Fire Department lost 2 firefighters in separate incidents during the year. Additionally, heart attacks were responsible for the deaths of 48 firefighters in 2005, reduced from 61 in 2004. Seven firefighters died of CVAs in 2005, up from 4 in 2004. Vehicle crashes took the lives of 26 firefighters in 2005. Five firefighters were killed in tanker (tender) crashes, 5 firefighters were killed in crashes that involved passenger vehicles, and 4 firefighters were killed in pumper crashes. Firefighters were also killed in crashes involving ATVs, aircraft, and a boat.

The United States Fire Administration has developed educational programs in the past few years to directly address firefighter deaths in vehicle crashes. Efforts have specifically targeted tanker operations, career firefighter vehicle operations, and volunteer firefighter vehicle operations.  The average age of a firefighter killed in 2005 was 46. The youngest firefighter to die while on-duty in 2005 was an 18-year-old Connecticut firefighter who died after falling from a ladder during training. The oldest firefighter to die while on-duty in 2005 was a 76-year-old New Jersey firefighter who was struck by a suspected drunk driver at a roadside emergency scene. These fatality statistics for 2005 are provisional and subject to change as the USFA contacts State Fire Marshals.