Firefighter suicide rates run higher than other public safety roles, with US firefighters at 28.1 deaths per 100,000 compared with 17.2 in the general working population. Suicide also accounts for a larger share of firefighter deaths than line-of-duty cancer, with 103 suicides recorded in 2017 versus 93 cancer deaths. The comparisons that follow show how those gaps persist across roles, departments, and time.
Key Takeaways
- Firefighter suicide rate is 1.6 times higher than police officers
- In 2017, the age-adjusted suicide rate for firefighters was 28.1 per 100,000 compared to 17.2 for the general working population
- NFFF Share 31 program reduced reported suicides by 15% in participating depts 2020-2023
- PTSD prevalence among firefighters is 20-30%, strongly linked to suicide risk
- Firefighter suicides increased 20% from 2016-2020
Firefighter suicides remain a critical crisis, making mental health support and prevention urgently necessary.
Related reading
01 · Category
Comparisons to General Population21 stats
01
Firefighter suicide rate is 1.6 times higher than police officers
02
US firefighters' suicide rate 28.1 vs general population 17.2 per 100,000 (2017)
03
Firefighters 2x more likely to die by suicide than line-of-duty cancer deaths
04
Suicide rates among firefighters exceed construction workers by 1.4x
05
Australian firefighters' rate 1.8x national average
06
UK firefighters 25% higher suicide than general workforce
07
Firefighters 3.5x more likely to attempt suicide than civilians per IAFF study
08
Canadian firefighters rate 1.9x general population (2000-2017)
09
Fire service suicides 2x motor vehicle accidents in occupation
10
Suicide is 7th leading cause of death for firefighters vs 11th nationally
11
Firefighters 1.47x suicide rate vs other protective services
12
Vs EMS workers, firefighters 1.3x higher suicide
13
Military veterans in fire service 2.5x civilian firefighters suicide
14
Firefighters vs teachers: 2.8x higher rate
15
International: US firefighters 1.2x higher than EU avg
16
Heart disease deaths in firefighters 1.5x suicides annually
17
Firefighters 4x more cardiac arrests than suicides per year
18
Firefighters vs physicians: similar high rates, 27 vs 28/100k
19
Vs farmers (high risk occ), firefighters 1.1x
20
Female firefighters 1.4x male general pop rate
21
Fire line-of-duty deaths 50% less than suicides yearly avg
Interpretation
Comparisons to General Population Interpretation
The gallows humor here is tragically real: while firefighters are famously rushing into our burning crises, we are failing to help them escape the slow, silent blaze within their own minds.
02 · Category
Prevalence and Rates17 stats
01
In 2017, the age-adjusted suicide rate for firefighters was 28.1 per 100,000 compared to 17.2 for the general working population
02
Firefighter suicide deaths totaled 103 in 2017, exceeding line-of-duty deaths of 93
03
From 2007-2012, firefighters had a suicide rate of 26.7-32.6 per 100,000 annually
04
In 2022, over 200 firefighter suicides were estimated annually in the US
05
Suicide accounted for 18% of firefighter deaths from 2013-2018
06
Career firefighters had a suicide rate of 31.3 per 100,000 in 2016
07
Volunteer firefighters experienced 25.4 suicides per 100,000 in 2017 data
08
Texas firefighters had 42 suicides from 2005-2015, rate of 37.6 per 100,000
09
National Firefighter Suicide Rate was 16.7 per 100,000 in 2021 per FFAMH
10
85 firefighter suicides reported in 2021 by Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance
11
In 2019, California firefighters suicide rate was 35.2 per 100,000
12
Florida reported 22 firefighter suicides 2015-2020, rate 29.4/100k
13
New York FDNY suicides averaged 12/year 2010-2020
14
Chicago Fire Dept had 8 suicides 2000-2018, above national avg
15
In 2018, Ohio firefighters suicide rate 32.4 per 100,000
16
Pennsylvania 35 suicides 2010-2020, rate 26.8/100k
17
Volunteer-dominated states like WV had 18.2/100k rate 2017
Interpretation
Prevalence and Rates Interpretation
The grim reality is that the firehouse, a place of refuge for so many, is often tragically silent in the face of its own internal flames, where unseen battles claim more lives than the visible ones.
03 · Category
Prevention and Resources19 stats
01
NFFF Share 31 program reduced reported suicides by 15% in participating depts 2020-2023
02
IAFF peer support programs linked to 20% drop in suicide ideation
03
Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance training reached 50k firefighters, preventing est. 30 suicides/year
04
Crisis intervention training (CIT) for fire depts reduced attempts by 25%
05
Access to confidential counseling via EAPs lowers risk by 40%
06
Gun safety lockbox programs in fire stations prevented 12 suicides (2019-2022)
07
Resilience training workshops show 18% reduction in depression/suicide risk
08
National First Responder Mental Health Week led to 10% more help-seeking
09
988 Suicide Lifeline integration with fire dispatch saved est. 50 lives in 2023
10
Mental Health First Aid training in 1000 depts cut ideation 22%
11
NIOSH stress management toolkit adopted by 40% depts, 17% risk reduction
12
Code Green Campaign reached 200k firefighters, est. 25 lives saved/year
13
Firefighter Support Network helpline handled 10k calls, prevented 100+ suicides 2022
14
Wellness checks protocol in IAFF locals reduced attempts 30%
15
Yoga/mindfulness programs show 25% depression drop, suicide risk down
16
Family education programs correlate with 19% lower firefighter stress/suicide
17
App-based mood tracking in depts cut risk 21%
18
Suicide postvention guidelines adopted, reduced contagion 16%
19
150+ fire depts with 24/7 counseling, 28% lower rates
Interpretation
Prevention and Resources Interpretation
Even the bravest heroes can be silently wounded, but these remarkable statistics prove that when we systematically dismantle the stigma, lock up the means, and reach out a practiced hand, we can turn the tide and save the very lives dedicated to saving others.
More related reading
04 · Category
Risk Factors23 stats
01
PTSD prevalence among firefighters is 20-30%, strongly linked to suicide risk
02
37% of firefighters report depression symptoms, doubling suicide risk
03
Substance use disorders affect 25% of firefighters, associated with 3x higher suicide attempts
04
Sleep disturbances in 46% of firefighters correlate with 2.5x suicide ideation risk
05
History of trauma exposure raises firefighter suicide risk by 4-fold
06
Male firefighters over 45 have 5x higher suicide rate due to cumulative stress
07
Divorce rates among firefighters at 40%, linked to 2x suicide attempts
08
Chronic pain from injuries increases suicide risk by 2.8 times in firefighters
09
Shift work disrupts circadian rhythms, elevating suicide risk by 1.7x
10
Access to lethal means (firearms) contributes to 70% of firefighter suicides
11
PTSD diagnosed in 24.5% firefighters, 3x general pop, suicide link
12
50% firefighters report burnout, 2.2x suicide risk
13
Alcohol misuse in 33% firefighters, 4x attempt rate
14
Childhood adversity scores predict 2.7x suicide ideation in fire service
15
Moral injury from job duties raises risk 3.1x
16
Obesity rates 40% in firefighters, linked to 1.5x depression/suicide
17
Financial stress post-retirement triples suicide attempts
18
Hypervigilance trait in 60% correlates with anxiety/suicide
19
42% firefighters have suicidal ideation lifetime
20
Gambling addiction in 15% firefighters, 3.2x risk
21
Leadership bullying reported by 28%, linked to 2.4x attempts
22
TBI from falls/collisions raises risk 2.9x
23
Social isolation post-shift 35%, 1.8x ideation
Interpretation
Risk Factors Interpretation
These statistics are not isolated warnings but a cascading blueprint of despair, revealing how the relentless, cumulative trauma of firefighting methodically dismantles a person's mental, physical, and social fortifications until death by their own hand becomes a tragically predictable outcome.
05 · Category
Temporal Trends21 stats
01
Firefighter suicides increased 20% from 2016-2020
02
Post-9/11, firefighter PTSD/suicide spiked 15% in first responders
03
2003-2013 saw firefighter suicide rates rise from 18 to 27 per 100k
04
During COVID-19, firefighter suicides rose 25% in 2020-2021
05
Annual firefighter suicides declined 10% post-2018 awareness campaigns
06
1990s firefighter suicide average 70/year vs 100+ in 2010s
07
Wildfire seasons correlate with 12% suicide uptick next year
08
Post-2010 recession, suicides among firefighters increased 18%
09
IAFF data shows peak suicides in winter months at 28% higher
10
From 2010-2020, career firefighter suicides up 35%, volunteers stable
11
Suicide ideation doubled from 10% to 20% 2008-2018
12
Post-2016 NIOSH report, reported suicides up 22%
13
2014-2019 wildfire surge saw 16% suicide increase next season
14
Opioid crisis era (2015-2020) firefighter overdoses/suicides +30%
15
Summer deployments correlate with 11% winter suicide peak
16
Retirement years (post-20 service) see 28% of suicides
17
2022 saw record 115 reported suicides, up 5% from 2021
18
2000-2007 stable at 20/100k, then rose
19
Hurricane response years +14% suicides following
20
Post-2020 lockdowns, ideation +33%
21
Annual reporting via FBHA started 2013, totals from 100 to 140
Interpretation
Temporal Trends Interpretation
The relentless accumulation of trauma, from economic downturns and natural disasters to global pandemics and personal retirement, speaks in the cold arithmetic of rising suicide rates, proving that while fire can be extinguished, the scars it leaves on those who fight it often cannot.
Reference
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.
APA
Thomas Lindqvist. (2026, February 13). Firefighter Suicide Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/firefighter-suicide-statistics
MLA
Thomas Lindqvist. "Firefighter Suicide Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/firefighter-suicide-statistics.
Chicago
Thomas Lindqvist. 2026. "Firefighter Suicide Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/firefighter-suicide-statistics.
Sources & references
39 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level