Key Takeaways
- In 2022, there were 81 on-duty firefighter fatalities in the United States, a decrease of 12 from 2021.
- In 2021, the US recorded 93 on-duty firefighter deaths, with 37 attributed to heart attacks.
- 2020 saw 91 firefighter fatalities in the US, impacted by COVID-19 with 10 deaths directly related.
- Heart attacks caused 51% of US firefighter on-duty deaths from 2011-2020.
- Sudden cardiac death accounted for 42% of firefighter fatalities between 2000-2019.
- Trauma from structure fires led to 25% of on-duty deaths in the decade 2010-2019.
- 45% of US firefighter deaths from 1977-2022 were career firefighters aged 40-49.
- Volunteer firefighters comprised 72% of on-duty deaths in 2022.
- Average age of deceased firefighters in 2021 was 52 years.
- California reported 15 firefighter LODDs in 2020 alone due to wildfires.
- Texas had 12 on-duty deaths in 2022, mostly vehicle crashes.
- Florida firefighters suffered 10 LODDs 2019-2022 from hurricanes.
- LODDs declined 30% for firefighters with fitness programs 2015-2022.
- Overall US firefighter death rate dropped 50% from 1980 to 2020.
- Cardiac deaths decreased 25% with better screening post-2010.
On-duty firefighter deaths fell to 81 in 2022, led by fewer COVID era and cardiac fatalities.
Annual Statistics
Annual Statistics Interpretation
Causes of Death
Causes of Death Interpretation
Demographics
Demographics Interpretation
Geographic Distribution
Geographic Distribution Interpretation
Trends and Risk Factors
Trends and Risk Factors Interpretation
How We Rate Confidence
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
Emilia Santos. (2026, February 13). Firefighter Death Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/firefighter-death-statistics
Emilia Santos. "Firefighter Death Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/firefighter-death-statistics.
Emilia Santos. 2026. "Firefighter Death Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/firefighter-death-statistics.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NFPAnfpa.org
nfpa.org
- Reference 2USFAusfa.fema.gov
usfa.fema.gov
- Reference 3CDCcdc.gov
cdc.gov
- Reference 4NIFCnifc.gov
nifc.gov
- Reference 5FIREfire.ca.gov
fire.ca.gov
- Reference 6TDItdi.texas.gov
tdi.texas.gov
- Reference 7MYFLORIDACFOmyfloridacfo.com
myfloridacfo.com
- Reference 8DHSESdhses.ny.gov
dhses.ny.gov
- Reference 9PApa.gov
pa.gov
- Reference 10GEMAgema.georgia.gov
gema.georgia.gov
- Reference 11NCFORESTSERVICEncforestservice.gov
ncforestservice.gov
- Reference 12OSFMosfm.fire.state.il.us
osfm.fire.state.il.us
- Reference 13COMcom.ohio.gov
com.ohio.gov
- Reference 14DFFMdffm.az.gov
dffm.az.gov
- Reference 15KFIREMARSHALkfiremarshal.ky.gov
kfiremarshal.ky.gov
- Reference 16DNRdnr.wa.gov
dnr.wa.gov
- Reference 17SFMsfm.dps.mo.gov
sfm.dps.mo.gov
- Reference 18INin.gov
in.gov
- Reference 19OSFMosfm.dps.louisiana.gov
osfm.dps.louisiana.gov
- Reference 20OREGONoregon.gov
oregon.gov
- Reference 21MICHIGANmichigan.gov
michigan.gov
- Reference 22VAFIRECHIEFSvafirechiefs.org
vafirechiefs.org
- Reference 23CSFScsfs.colostate.edu
csfs.colostate.edu
- Reference 24MASSmass.gov
mass.gov
- Reference 25ALABAMAalabama.gov
alabama.gov
- Reference 26TNtn.gov
tn.gov
- Reference 27DSPSdsps.wi.gov
dsps.wi.gov
- Reference 28LLRllr.sc.gov
llr.sc.gov
- Reference 29FIREfire.state.mn.us
fire.state.mn.us
- Reference 30DIALdial.iowa.gov
dial.iowa.gov
- Reference 31OKLAHOMAoklahoma.gov
oklahoma.gov







