The .gov means it's official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information,
make sure you're on a federal government site.
The site is secure. The
https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any
information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.
206 firefighters died on the job from 2013 to 2018
September 03, 2020
Firefighters face the potential of injury or death each time they are called to fight fires, rescue people, or preserve property. As wildfires spread in California, firefighters are again called to extinguish the blazes and perform rescue activities. In 2018, firefighters in California sustained 2,300 nonfatal injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work. In the same year, there were no publishable data for firefighters that died on the job in California.
From 2013 to 2018, 206 firefighters in the United States lost their lives because of work injuries. In 2013, 64 percent of firefighter deaths (34 of the 53 total) resulted from fires or explosions. Another 19 percent (10 deaths) resulted from transportation incidents. In 2018, 22 percent of firefighter deaths (7 of the 32 total) resulted from fires and explosions and 38 percent (12 deaths) from transportation incidents.
Number of fatal work injuries to firefighters by selected event or exposure, private sector, federal, state and local government, 2013–18
Event or exposure
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Total
53
23
29
35
34
32
Transportation incidents
10
8
8
19
17
12
Fires and explosions
34
8
10
1
8
7
All other events or exposures
9
7
11
15
9
13
In 2018, firefighters incurred 15,910 work injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work to recuperate. Overexertion and bodily reaction accounted for 7,780 of the injuries and illnesses and 4,040 resulted from falls, slips and trips.
Number of nonfatal work injuries and illnesses to firefighters resulting in days away from work by selected event or exposure, private sector, state and local government, 2013–18
Event or exposure
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Total
14,540
14,440
13,280
12,260
15,530
15,910
Overexertion and bodily reaction
7,950
6,710
6,330
6,370
6,300
7,780
Falls, slips, trips
2,750
2,810
3,430
2,520
4,090
4,040
All other events or exposures
3,840
4,920
3,520
3,370
5,140
4,090
These data are from the Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities program and include workers in the private sector and government. BLS will release data for 2019 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses on November 4, 2020, and 2019 fatal occupational injuries data on December 16, 2020.
United States Department of Labor
