While over a million volunteer firefighters form the backbone of American communities, the modern fire service is a complex blend of dedicated volunteers and career professionals, sophisticated equipment, and evolving health risks, responding to millions of emergencies from kitchen fires to sprawling wildfires each year.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, there were 1,115,000 volunteer firefighters in the United States, representing 67% of all firefighters
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 136,740 paid firefighters employed in the US in May 2022 with a median annual wage of $50,700
- Career firefighters make up 33% of the total firefighting workforce in the US, totaling approximately 548,000 individuals as of 2021
- There were 1,389,500 reported fires in the US in 2021
- Structure fires accounted for 501,500 incidents in 2021, a 6% decrease from 2020
- Vehicle fires numbered 281,500 in 2021, causing $1.9 billion in property damage
- US fire departments' total expenditures reached $48.1 billion in 2021
- Federal funding for fire programs was $425 million via AFG in FY2022
- Average fire department budget per capita is $92 annually in career departments 2020
- 55 on-duty firefighter fatalities in 2022, lowest in decades per NFPA
- Cancer is the leading cause of firefighter deaths, 66% of line-of-duty since 2000
- 80,000 firefighters injured annually on duty 2017-2021 average
- US fire departments purchased 1,200 new fire engines in 2022 costing $900M
- SCBA units average 15-year lifespan with $8,000 replacement cost each 2021
- 85% of departments use NFPA 1901 compliant apparatus post-2020 upgrades
The U.S. firefighting workforce is predominantly volunteer and faces ongoing recruitment and health challenges.
Economic and Budget Statistics
- US fire departments' total expenditures reached $48.1 billion in 2021
- Federal funding for fire programs was $425 million via AFG in FY2022
- Average fire department budget per capita is $92 annually in career departments 2020
- Volunteer fire departments rely on 85% local funding sources like taxes and donations 2021
- Fire service capital expenditures totaled $12.4 billion for apparatus and facilities 2020
- Staffing costs account for 72% of career fire department budgets per 2019 survey
- FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grants awarded $336 million in 2021
- Property tax revenues fund 45% of fire department operations nationwide 2022
- Average annual budget for large metro departments exceeds $500 million in 2021
- SAFER grants provided $170 million for hiring 7,500 firefighters in 2022
- Fire protection expenditures per capita rose 3% to $162 in 2020 BLS data
- Insurance premiums for fire departments averaged $250,000 yearly for mid-size 2021
- 65% of departments increased budgets post-COVID by 2022 surveys
- Apparatus replacement costs average $750,000 per pumper engine 2022
- Local government fire spending: $45.7 billion in 2021
- Pension contributions consume 25% of career department budgets 2020
- Mutual aid agreements saved departments $1.2 billion in response costs 2021 est.
- Fuel costs for fire apparatus rose 40% in 2022 affecting budgets
- Training budget allocation averages 4% of total department spending 2021
- Fire tax districts generate $8.5 billion annually for services 2022
- Overtime pay accounted for 15% of personnel costs in 75% of departments 2020
- Station construction costs averaged $10 million per new facility 2021
- Grants funded 22% of equipment purchases in volunteer departments 2022
- Total fire service revenue from fees for service: $2.1 billion in 2021
- Healthcare costs for firefighters rose 12% to $8,000 per employee 2022
- Rural fire aid grants totaled $50 million in FY2021
Economic and Budget Statistics Interpretation
Despite heroic efforts to keep their financial house from burning down—with local taxpayers shouldering the bulk of the burden while federal grants offer little more than a squirt gun's help—America's fire departments are stretched thinner than their budgets trying to staff, equip, and fuel their lifesaving mission.
Employment Statistics
- In 2022, there were 1,115,000 volunteer firefighters in the United States, representing 67% of all firefighters
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 136,740 paid firefighters employed in the US in May 2022 with a median annual wage of $50,700
- Career firefighters make up 33% of the total firefighting workforce in the US, totaling approximately 548,000 individuals as of 2021
- From 2017 to 2021, the number of fire departments in the US was 27,758, a decrease of 2% from prior periods
- Women comprised 5.9% of career firefighters and 12.2% of volunteer firefighters in 2020 surveys
- The average age of firefighters in the US is 40 years for career and 44 for volunteers based on 2018 data
- Firefighter employment grew by 4% from 2018 to 2022 according to BLS data
- In 2021, 76% of fire departments had fewer than 10 paid staff on duty during the typical workday
- Minority firefighters represented 24.8% of career firefighters in 2019, up from 18.9% in 2002
- There were 1,066,800 firefighters responding to 30,061,000 incidents annually averaged over 2017-2021
- BLS projects firefighter job growth at 4% from 2022-2032, faster than average
- In 2020, 82% of firefighters were volunteers in departments serving populations under 25,000
- Firefighter paramedics numbered over 250,000 in the US in 2021 estimates
- Turnover rate for career firefighters averaged 3.5% annually from 2015-2020
- 91% of fire departments are volunteer-based serving rural and suburban areas per 2018 NFPA survey
- Median experience for career firefighters is 12 years as of 2022 BLS data
- Fire departments employed 119,700 first-line supervisors of firefighting in 2022
- 15% of firefighters are EMT-certified beyond basic levels in 2021 data
- Volunteer firefighter numbers declined 8% from 2015 to 2021
- Urban fire departments average 150 career firefighters per department in 2020
- In 2022, firefighter wages ranged from $35,000 to $120,000 annually by region and experience per BLS
- 62% of departments combine fire and EMS services with shared staffing in 2019
- Firefighter recruitment challenges affected 75% of departments in 2022 surveys
- Average department size is 41 firefighters for career departments per 2021 data
- Hispanic/Latino firefighters make up 18.3% of career force in 2020
- Pension eligibility requires 20-25 years service for 75% of career firefighters
- Fire service call volume per firefighter averaged 2,500 annually in 2021
- 28% of firefighters have college degrees or higher in 2018 survey
- BLS data shows 6,800 new firefighter jobs added yearly projected to 2032
- Suburban departments have 45% volunteer staffing on average in 2020
- In 2022, the US had 1.18 million total firefighters per NFPA estimates
Employment Statistics Interpretation
While America's fire service remains heroically dependent on a vast, graying, and slightly shrinking army of volunteers who outnumber their paid counterparts two-to-one, the modest but steady growth in professional ranks, diversity, and wages suggests a crucial, evolving backbone is being forged for the nation's 30 million annual emergencies.
Incident Statistics
- There were 1,389,500 reported fires in the US in 2021
- Structure fires accounted for 501,500 incidents in 2021, a 6% decrease from 2020
- Vehicle fires numbered 281,500 in 2021, causing $1.9 billion in property damage
- Outside and other fires totaled 607,500 in 2021, up 9% from prior year
- Residential building fires caused 2,530 civilian deaths in 2017-2021 average
- US fire departments responded to 36.4 million incidents in 2021, 23.4 million medical aids
- Cooking equipment caused 49% of residential fires from 2015-2019
- Arson accounted for 16,500 structure fires annually averaged 2016-2020
- Wildland fires burned 7.1 million acres in 2022, above 10-year average
- Fire incident rate per 1,000 population was 4.2 in 2021
- Confined structure fires made up 82% of all structure fires in 2021
- Electrical malfunctions caused 7% of home fires, 18% of deaths 2015-2019
- Total property damage from fires was $25.1 billion in 2021 estimates
- Non-residential structure fires averaged 102,900 yearly 2017-2021
- Grass and brush fires accounted for 5% of all fires but 23% of acres burned in 2021
- Civilian fire injuries totaled 11,200 in residential fires 2021 average
- Multiple-fatality fires numbered 490 from 2017-2021
- Heating fires caused 15,000 annually, 6% of structure fires 2016-2020
- EMS incidents rose 2% to 23.4 million in 2021 from 2020
- Wildfires responded to by structural departments: 50,000 in 2022
- Smoking materials caused 7,650 structure fires yearly 2015-2019
- Fire death rate was 4.8 per million population in 2021
- Clothes dryer fires averaged 15,500 yearly 2014-2018
- Total false alarms: 4.2 million incidents in 2021
- Highway vehicle fires: 127,500 in 2021, down 3%
- Intentional fires caused $2.2 billion in damage annually 2015-2019
- Apartment structure fires: 116,500 yearly 2015-2019 average
- Store and office fires caused $924 million damage yearly 2015-2019
- Total US fire calls: 30.5 million non-fire incidents in 2021
- Lightning caused 1,200 structure fires yearly 2014-2018
- National fire incident reporting system covers 82% of US population in 2021
Incident Statistics Interpretation
While the American fire service heroically races toward over a million potential infernos each year—from kitchen calamities to vast wildlands—their true, and perhaps most daunting, task is managing a relentless national emergency that disguises itself as everything from a burned dinner to a false alarm, all while striving to keep the tragedy behind each statistic from becoming a reality.
Safety and Health Statistics
- 55 on-duty firefighter fatalities in 2022, lowest in decades per NFPA
- Cancer is the leading cause of firefighter deaths, 66% of line-of-duty since 2000
- 80,000 firefighters injured annually on duty 2017-2021 average
- Heart attacks caused 32% of firefighter fatalities 2011-2020
- PPE contamination leads to 18 carcinogens detected in firefighter gear post-fire
- 24% of firefighters report PTSD symptoms in NIOSH surveys 2021
- Struck-by injuries account for 7% of firefighter fatalities since 2013
- Annual firefighter injury rate per 1,000 is 58.2 for career, 17.9 volunteers 2021
- COVID-19 caused 140 firefighter deaths in 2020-2021 line-of-duty
- 45% of firefighters exposed to PFAS in turnout gear per 2022 studies
- Fall injuries from heights caused 10% of non-fatal injuries 2021
- Behavioral health programs cover 60% of departments with 10+ staff 2022
- Asphyxiation deaths declined 50% due to SCBA use since 1980s NFPA data
- 72% of fatal injuries occur during fire ground operations 2010-2019
- Musculoskeletal injuries represent 32% of all firefighter injuries 2021
- Hearing loss affects 35-50% of veteran firefighters per NIOSH
- Vehicle crash fatalities: 10% of total on-duty deaths 2017-2021
- Wellness-fitness programs in 82% of career departments reduce injury 20%
- Suicide rate among firefighters is 2x general population per 2021 studies
- Exertion-related injuries up 15% during wildfire responses 2022
- 91% survival rate for cardiac arrests when AED used by firefighters 2021
- Burn injuries declined to 4,200 annually due to better PPE 2021
- Mental health claims rose 25% post-2020 in IAFF benefits data
- Traffic incident injuries: 9,000 yearly for firefighters 2018-2022 avg
- Respiratory protection failures linked to 5% of injuries 2021 NFPA
- Fatigue contributes to 20% of medical emergencies on duty 2022 studies
- 65% of firefighters vaccinated for Hepatitis B in 2021 surveys
- Collapse incidents caused 11 firefighter deaths 2016-2020
- NFPA 1582 standard adopted by 70% departments for medical evals 2022
Safety and Health Statistics Interpretation
While the fireground has grown statistically safer from flames and falls, our heroes now face a more insidious enemy in the form of cancer, heart disease, and mental health crises, proving that the most dangerous part of the job is often what we carry home long after the sirens fade.
Training and Equipment Statistics
- US fire departments purchased 1,200 new fire engines in 2022 costing $900M
- SCBA units average 15-year lifespan with $8,000 replacement cost each 2021
- 85% of departments use NFPA 1901 compliant apparatus post-2020 upgrades
- Annual PPE replacement budget $1,500 per firefighter in career depts 2022
- Drones used by 35% of departments for incident assessment 2023 surveys
- Fire hose replacement cycles every 10 years at $50 per foot cost 2021
- Thermal imaging cameras deployed in 92% of career engines 2022
- Hazmat response teams equipped in 60% of metro departments 2021
- Annual ladder truck purchases: 250 units at $1.2M each average 2022
- CAD systems modernized in 78% departments with $100K installs 2021
- Wildland PPE kits issued to 40% structural firefighters 2022
- Portable radios updated to P25 digital in 65% agencies by 2023
- Annual training hours average 360 for career, 60 for volunteers NFPA 2022
- Aerial drone training certified 5,000 firefighters in 2022 programs
- Hydraulic rescue tools (Jaws of Life) in 98% heavy rescue units 2021
- EV fire suppression kits purchased by 20% depts amid 30% rise in EV fires 2023
- Simulator training facilities in 45% large departments costing $2M each 2022
- Gas monitors for IAQ used post-fire by 75% hazmat teams 2021
- 12-lead ECG monitors standard in 88% EMS fire units 2022
- Tanker shuttle apparatus: 8,000 units nationwide with 3,000 gal capacity avg 2021
- VR training modules adopted by 25% academies reducing live fire 40% 2023
- Foam systems for Class B fires in 55% stations 2022 upgrades
- NFPA 1851 cleaning standard compliance 90% in career depts 2021 audit
- Brush trucks numbered 15,000 for wildland-urban interface 2022 fleet
- Live fire training burns conducted 50,000 annually under NFPA 1403 2021
- Command vehicles equipped with GIS mapping in 70% large depts 2022
- CAAS ambulance standards met by 95% fire-based EMS fleets 2023
- Officer training certifications: 80% of company officers NFPA compliant 2022
- Quint apparatus deliveries: 150 units yearly at $1.5M avg cost 2022
Training and Equipment Statistics Interpretation
While each new fire engine rolls out as a gleaming, million-dollar monument to our hope we never need it, these sobering statistics on everything from hose replacement to EV fire kits reveal the staggering, ongoing cost—in training, technology, and sheer cash—of maintaining our collective delusion that we can confidently walk into hell.