Official 2011 Line of Duty Deaths as of 18 November 2011: 74
(Source: United States Fire Administration 2011 Line of Duty Death Notices)
Deaths involving Disorientation: 1 [1]
Deaths involving Building Collapse: 3 [1, 2, 3]
Deaths involving Flashover, Backdraft, Explosive Incident: 5 [1] [2, 3] [4,5]
Deaths in 1- and 2-Family Dwellings: 2 [1] [2, 3]
Deaths in Multi-Family Dwellings: 2 [1, 2]
Deaths in Educational, Institutional, Commercial and Industrial Occupancies: 5
1: Church
1: Store
2: Coal Bin
Deaths in Vacant/Abandoned Structures: 0
Average Age: 49
Youngest: 18
Oldest: 82 (80, 82)
- Firefighters 65 years old or older at time of death: 3
- Volunteer firefighters 19-years old or younger who died responding to alarm or station: 1
- Two, age unknown at time of announcement.
Volunteer: 47
Career: 25
*1 not listed as either (recruit), death occurred with paid fire department.
*2 listed as "Wildland Part Time" counted as "Career" here.
Rank/Position
Fire Chief: 4
Assistant Chief: 3
Battalion Chief: 2 (1: acting)
Major: 0
Captain: 12
Lieutenant: 9
Firefighter: 39
Firefighter/Ranger/Wildfire Contracted: 3
Recruit/Trainee: 1
Driver/Operator: 1
Fire-Police: 2
Department of Defense: 1
Nature of Death
Asphyxiation: 0
Burns: 9
Cerebrovascular Accident: 0
Crushed: 3
Drowning: 1
Exposure: 1 (cancer)
Heart Attack: 20
Other: 4 (1 – exposure to Hepatitis)
Trauma:15
Unknown: 24
Cause of Death
Caught/Trapped: 8
Collapse: 4
(1: reported as Collapse; Nature of Death, Heart Attack at home)
Exposure: 3
Fall: 2
Lost: 1
Other: 4 (1 – exposure to Hepatitis)
Stress/Overexertion: 23
- Cardiovascular difficulties diagnosed on fireground, victim dies at a later time: 3
Struck by: 3
Trauma: 1
Vehicle Collision: 5
Unknown: 23
Deaths involving lack of seatbelt use: 1*
(reports state victim was ejected but do not confirm seatbelt use)
Deaths Involving Personal Vehicles (POV) and Response: 4
1-Responding to brush fire
1-Responding to mutual aid request
1-Operating at outdoor fire on ATV; collided with another vehicle.
1-Suffered heart attack and crashed POV while enroute to fire.
Deaths Involving Apparatus Accidents: 1
1- Utility vehicle left roadway while responding to medical assist call.
Fireground Assignment/Activity at Time of Death
Incident Command: 0
Fire Attack: 18 (7*)
1: Wildland; struck by tree
4: Wildland; burned
1: Wildland; fell ill working fire line
1: Killed in ceiling collapse
1: Killed in roof collapse
1: Killed in wall collapse
2: Killed in explosion of fire building/structure.
2: Reported flashover in private dwelling
*(1-Activity Type listed as "Fire Attack"; victim was found unconscious the following morning after fire.)
(1-Activity Type listed as "Fire Attack"; victim became ill on fireground, died later at hospital.)
(1-Activity Type listed as "Fire Attack"; victim suffered cardiac arrest while training on following hoseline out of training facility.)
(1-Activity Type listed as "Fire Attack"; victim died of blunt force trauma during wildfire.)
(1-Activity Type listed as "Fire Attack"; victim suffered heart attack inside residential structure fire, died at hospital.)
(1-Activity Type listed as "Fire Attack:", fell ill while working on fire line.)
(1-Activity Type listed as "Fire Attack"; died of uknown causes while working at a campground (trailer) fire.)
Search: 3
- Deaths where occupants were known to be out of fire structure: 0
- Water/Swift water operations: 1
Vent (Roof): 1
Water Supply: 2
Overhaul/Salvage: 0
Not Stated Beyond "while on scene of – ": 0
1: Died of unknown nature and cause; discovered missing during wildfire.
1: Died of unknown cause while on scene of grass/abandoned structure fire.
1: Died; Struck by vehicle while working traffic control at motor vehicle accident.
1: Fell ill while working at a water supply site during a structure fire; died hours later.
Death As a Result of EMS Exposure: 1
Deaths Which Occurred During Training: 8
(1-medical emergency during live burn training)
(1-during ice rescue training)
(1-ill during SCBA training)
(1-during basic firefighter (recruit/trainee) training, no live burn)
(1-backed over by tanker during training)
(1-several hours after wildland training, died at residence)
(1-fell during rope rescue training)
(1-suffered heart attack during technical rescue training; died almost a month later.)
Deaths Which Occurred During Fitness Training: 1
Deaths Which Occurred Outside the "Traditional" Line of Duty Definition:
1: Died of heart attack, crashed POV enrout to fire.
1: Died of heart attack while directing traffic at a motor vehicle accident.
1: Found dead in bed at shift change.
1: Died, found slumped over in car after working a 24 hour shift.
1: Died while on duty; had responded to "a number of emergency calls" the previous night.
1: Collapse while having vehicle serviced. Had responded to two calls in the preceding 24 hours.
1: Suffered medical emergency during treadmill stress test.
1: Found unconscious in quarters, not connected to earlier alarm(s).
1: Fell ill during SCBA training.
1: Cardiac arrest during training.
1: Heart Attack while doing paperwork, not connected to earlier alarm(s).
1: Fell ill while on duty; left to see family physician.
1: Died several hours after shift, at home.
1: Heart attack; fell ill at home after responding to en EMS call; canceled while enroute, then stuck in snow while returning.
1: Chest pains within 24 hours after fire call; went to hospital, died five days later.
1: Death occurred due to "vehicle mishap" currently under investigation (DoD) Local news reports state victim was backed over by tanker during training.
1: Collapsed and died after woods fire, during a stop to refuel apparatus.
1: Heart attack at residence several hours after training.
1: Fell during training, died of injuries sustained.
1: Complaint of chest pains while responding; died later
1: Heart attack several days after removing storm debris.
1: Heart attack at home after responding to an accident.
2: POV response accident.
1: Died in sleep after back-to-back EMS calls.
1: Experience chest pains after EMS call; died at hospital.
1: Died after returning home from MVA response.
1: Died after hospital exam, after not feeling well following multiple responses during storm.
1: Died, found unresponsive at station.
1: Died of injuries suffered 30 years ago during fire.
1: Died of cardiac arrest four hours after responding to motorcycle accident.
1: Died of heart attack at home after returning from structure fire.
1: Died of heart attack at home after responding to three earlier incidents.
1: Died in accident while performing maintenance on department vehicle.
1: Died at home, following morning after responding to false alarm.
1: Died at hospital, two days after treatment for pulmonary embolism, 24 hours after responding to two fire calls.
1: Died almost a month after suffering heart attack during technical rescue training.
1: Died after falling off step ladder at firehouse; had responded to call earlier in day.
1: Died of unknown cause/nature after returning from structure fire.
Department of Defense, Military fire-service LODDs:
Air Force: 1 (Japan)
Deaths Linked to 11 September 2001: 2
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