Behind every flashing light and blaring siren lies a devastating statistic: last year alone, over 300 first responders—firefighters, police officers, and EMS providers—made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, with medical emergencies, particularly cardiac events, tragically leading as the top cause of death.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, there were 81 on-duty firefighter fatalities in the United States, with 56 being firefighters and 25 fire department members engaged in EMS activities
- From 2013-2022, an average of 84 firefighters died annually on duty in the US, totaling 838 deaths over the decade
- In 2021, 81 firefighters died while on duty, marking a 9% decrease from the previous year
- In 2023, 130 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty, a 21% increase from 2022
- From 2020-2023, 1,047 officers were feloniously killed, averaging 262 per year
- In 2022, 61 officers were feloniously killed, down 6 from 2021
- In 2022, EMS practitioners suffered 11 line-of-duty deaths
- From 2019-2022, 42 EMS providers died on duty, averaging 10.5 per year
- In 2021, 15 EMS LODDs recorded, highest recent year excluding COVID
- In 2022, 60% of first responder deaths were medical-related across all types
- Gunfire caused 46 law enforcement deaths in 2023, primary traumatic cause
- Vehicle crashes led to 54 first responder deaths in 2022 (fire/EMS/police combined)
- In 2022, US first responders total LODDs 300+, fire 81, police 130, EMS 11
- Firefighter LODDs declined 70% since 1980s peak of 150+/year
- Officer felonious killings up 30% 2019-2023, from 48 to 62 average
In 2022, 81 firefighters died on duty, with cardiac events being the leading cause.
Causes
- In 2022, 60% of first responder deaths were medical-related across all types
- Gunfire caused 46 law enforcement deaths in 2023, primary traumatic cause
- Vehicle crashes led to 54 first responder deaths in 2022 (fire/EMS/police combined)
- Cancer accounted for 11% of firefighter LODDs in 2022, rising trend
- COVID-19 was top cause in 2020, killing 445 firefighters/EMS/police combined
- Struck-by/vehicle caused 20% of firefighter deaths 2013-2022
- Heart disease caused 33 firefighter deaths in 2022, 41% total
- Traffic pursuits killed 17 officers 2018-2023 average annually
- Asphyxiation killed 7 firefighters in 2022
- Suicide rates among first responders 1.5x general population, per CDC
- Burns caused 0 firefighter deaths in structure fires 2022, down historically
- Physical assaults killed 7 officers in 2023
- Overexertion caused 8% of firefighter LODDs 2013-2022
- Medical emergencies top EMS cause, 40% cardiac/stroke
- Drowning rare, 1-2 annually across first responders
- Explosions caused 1 firefighter death per decade average
- Knives killed 3 officers in 2023
- Stress-related illnesses 20% of LODDs post-2010
- Collapse/trapped caused 4 firefighter deaths 2022
- Drug overdose rare but rising, 2% EMS LODDs recent
- Electrical caused 1 firefighter death 2022
- Hands/fists killed 1 officer 2023
- Exposure to toxins 5% firefighter cancer deaths
- Machinery/equipment 3% traumatic deaths fire/EMS
- Animal attacks <1% all causes, mostly police rural
- 1977-2022, 43% firefighter deaths medical, 28% trauma
Causes Interpretation
The silent threats—heart attacks, cancer, and unseen trauma—claim far more first responders than the dramatic dangers the public imagines, proving their most relentless adversary often wears no uniform.
EMS
- In 2022, EMS practitioners suffered 11 line-of-duty deaths
- From 2019-2022, 42 EMS providers died on duty, averaging 10.5 per year
- In 2021, 15 EMS LODDs recorded, highest recent year excluding COVID
- Vehicle accidents caused 6 EMS deaths in 2022, 55% of total
- COVID-19 killed 28 EMS workers in 2020 alone
- From 1992-2022, 295 EMS providers died in crashes responding to calls
- In 2023, 8 EMS LODDs preliminary, mostly medical emergencies
- Cardiac arrest claimed 3 EMS lives in 2022
- 70% of EMS fatalities are male, average age 45, from 2010-2022 data
- Struck-by vehicle killed 2 EMS in 2022
- Texas EMS had 3 LODDs in 2022, highest state
- From 2005-2022, 112 EMS deaths from medical causes
- California reported 2 EMS deaths in 2022
- Suicide accounted for 1 EMS LODD in 2022
- Florida had 2 EMS fatalities in 2022
- In 2018, 14 EMS providers died on duty
- Pennsylvania EMS lost 1 in 2022
- 40% of EMS LODDs occur during patient care, per NIOSH studies
- New York had 1 EMS death in 2022
- From 2015-2020, 65 EMS deaths, 48% vehicular
- Ohio EMS recorded 1 LODD in 2022
- Cancer caused 1 EMS death in recent tracking
- Georgia had 1 in 2022
- In 2020, non-COVID EMS LODDs totaled 12
- From 1998-2022, 1,200+ EMS fatalities documented by FEMA
- Illinois EMS had 1 death in 2022
- Assault/violence rare, 0.5% of EMS LODDs 2010-2022
- In 2019, 9 EMS LODDs
- North Carolina EMS 1 in 2022
- Sudden cardiac death is 25% of EMS LODDs per decade average
EMS Interpretation
Behind the sirens and speed lies a grim paradox: the race to save lives is itself a deadly gamble, where rushing to the call, the strain of the job, and even the patient's bedside each claim their share from those sworn to answer ours.
Firefighters
- In 2022, there were 81 on-duty firefighter fatalities in the United States, with 56 being firefighters and 25 fire department members engaged in EMS activities
- From 2013-2022, an average of 84 firefighters died annually on duty in the US, totaling 838 deaths over the decade
- In 2021, 81 firefighters died while on duty, marking a 9% decrease from the previous year
- Sudden cardiac deaths accounted for 41% of firefighter fatalities in 2022, totaling 33 out of 81 deaths
- In 2020, 96 on-duty firefighter deaths occurred, the highest since 2007, with 35 attributed to COVID-19
- From 1977-2022, 20,943 US firefighters died in the line of duty, averaging 252 per year
- In Texas, 28 firefighters died on duty in 2022, the highest state total
- Cancer caused 9 firefighter deaths in 2022, representing 11% of total on-duty fatalities
- Vehicle crashes resulted in 16 firefighter fatalities in 2022, or 20% of total deaths
- In 2019, 48 firefighters died from heart attacks or other medical issues suddenly
- Pennsylvania recorded 20 firefighter LODDs from 2018-2022, second highest after Texas
- 62% of firefighter fatalities in 2022 occurred during non-fire emergency incidents like EMS calls
- From 2018-2022, 428 firefighters died on duty, averaging 86 per year
- Asphyxiation/smoke inhalation caused 7 firefighter deaths in 2022
- In 2023 preliminary data, 78 firefighter fatalities reported, down 4% from 2022
- 83% of firefighters who died in 2022 were male, with average age of 49 years
- California had 12 firefighter LODDs in 2022, third highest nationally
- From 1977-2022, structure fires caused 1,798 firefighter deaths, 8.6% of total
- 14 firefighters died from burns in the line of duty from 2013-2022
- In 2018, 60 firefighters died suddenly from cardiac events
- Volunteer firefighters comprised 77% of fatalities in 2022, totaling 62 deaths
- Florida reported 11 firefighter deaths in 2022
- 5 firefighters died from struck-by incidents in 2022
- From 2000-2022, 2,196 firefighters died from medical causes
- New York had 9 LODDs in 2022
- 2 firefighters died in structure fires in 2022, lowest in decades
- Ohio recorded 8 firefighter fatalities in 2022
- 11% of 2022 firefighter deaths were cancer-related, up from previous years
- In 2017, 124 firefighters died on duty, highest in recent years excluding COVID
- Georgia had 7 LODDs in 2022
Firefighters Interpretation
Behind every heroic statistic is a chilling reality: while flames claim fewer firefighters, their own hearts now wage the deadliest battle, proving that the most insidious foe often wears no uniform and leaves no burn.
Law Enforcement
- In 2023, 130 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty, a 21% increase from 2022
- From 2020-2023, 1,047 officers were feloniously killed, averaging 262 per year
- In 2022, 61 officers were feloniously killed, down 6 from 2021
- Gunfire feloniously killed 46 officers in 2023, 45% of total felonious deaths
- Traffic-related deaths took 38 officer lives in 2023, highest category
- From 1792-2024, 23,824 officers killed in line of duty per ODMP
- In 2021, 73 officers feloniously killed, highest since 1995
- 613 officers died from COVID-19 between 2020-2022
- Texas lost 19 officers in 2023, most of any state
- Vehicular assault caused 11 felonious deaths in 2023
- Florida had 15 LODDs in 2023, second highest
- From 2018-2023, average annual felonious killings rose to 56
- California recorded 14 officer deaths in 2023
- Knives/other cutting instruments killed 3 officers in 2023
- Physical assaults led to 7 deaths in 2023
- In 2020, 264 officers died, mostly from COVID-19 (264 total LODD)
- Ohio had 11 LODDs in 2023
- Hands/fists caused 1 felonious death in 2023
- Pennsylvania reported 10 officer deaths in 2023
- From 1960-2023, gunfire accounted for 50% of felonious officer deaths
- Georgia had 9 LODDs in 2023
- 82% of feloniously killed officers in 2023 were male, average age 40
- New York had 8 deaths in 2023
- Illinois recorded 7 LODDs in 2023
- In 2019, 51 officers feloniously killed
- Missouri had 6 officer deaths in 2023
- In 2023, 45% of traffic deaths were pursuits-related
- From 2014-2023, 689 officers killed by gunfire
- North Carolina had 6 LODDs in 2023
- In 2016, 66 officers feloniously killed
Law Enforcement Interpretation
The solemn reality behind these numbers is that while we obsess over yearly fluctuations, the true tragedy is the relentless, grinding average—a life lost in the line of duty nearly every single day—a statistic that never gets a day off.
Trends
- In 2022, US first responders total LODDs 300+, fire 81, police 130, EMS 11
- Firefighter LODDs declined 70% since 1980s peak of 150+/year
- Officer felonious killings up 30% 2019-2023, from 48 to 62 average
- EMS LODDs doubled 2010-2020 excluding COVID, from 7 to 15/year
- Post-9/11, police deaths averaged 150/year vs 120 pre
- Volunteer firefighters 80% of LODDs despite 70% workforce
- Gunfire officer deaths steady 50/year, but traffic down 20% decade
- Cardiac firefighter deaths 50% since 2000, stable but dominant
- EMS vehicle crashes 50% LODDs, improving with tech
- South states 40% national firefighter LODDs, Texas leads
- Officer COVID deaths peaked 2021, 400+, now baseline medical up
- Age of deceased firefighters rising, avg 49 in 2022 vs 44 in 2000
- Female first responder LODDs <5%, but EMS higher 20%
- National LODD rate per 100k firefighters 15.8 in 2022
- Police assaults up 10% assaults but deaths stable
- Cancer recognition increased LODD reports 5x since 2010 firefighters
- Rural first responders 2x urban LODD rate per capita
- PPE improvements reduced fire deaths 90% since 1980
- Mental health LODDs (suicide) tracked more, 10-20/year combined
Trends Interpretation
While we rightly celebrate the profound reduction in firefighter fatalities thanks to better gear and aggressive cancer recognition, the sobering and stubborn persistence of line-of-duty deaths—from gunfire claiming officers and vehicle crashes claiming EMS providers to the rising age and cardiac toll on volunteers—paints a complex picture where our lifesavers remain in a perilous, evolving battle against violence, geography, and their own heroic physiology.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NFPAnfpa.orgVisit source
- Reference 2USFAusfa.fema.govVisit source
- Reference 3CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 4NLEOMFnleomf.orgVisit source
- Reference 5UCRucr.fbi.govVisit source
- Reference 6ODMPodmp.orgVisit source
- Reference 7JEMSjems.comVisit source
- Reference 8EMS1ems1.comVisit source
- Reference 9FEMAfema.govVisit source
- Reference 10NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 11PUBMEDpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source