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Fire-Related Firefighter Injuries Reported to the National Fire Incident Reporting System (2015-2017)
From the Document: "Annually, from 2015 to 2017, there were an estimated 63,000 firefighter injuries resulting from all types of fire department duties. Of these injuries, 25,975 occurred on the fireground or were considered to be fire related (includes structure fires, vehicle fires, outside fires, etc.). An additional 4,525 injuries occurred while responding to or returning from an incident, which includes, but is not limited to, fires. While the majority of injuries are minor, a significant number are debilitating and career ending. These injuries exact a great toll on the fire service. [...] This topical report addresses the details of firefighter injuries sustained at, responding to or returning from a fire incident, focusing on data as reported to the NFIRS [National Fire Incident Reporting System] from 2015 to 2017, the most recent data available at the time of the analysis."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration
2019-07
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Large Loss Building Fires [June 2011]
"These topical reports are designed to explore facets of the U.S. fire problem as depicted through data collected in the U.S. Fire Administration's (USFA's) National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). Each topical report briefly addresses the nature of the specific fire or fire-related topic, highlights important findings from the data, and may suggest other resources to consider for further information. Also included are recent examples of fire incidents that demonstrate some of the issues addressed in the report or that put the report topic in context."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration
2011-06
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Restaurant Building Fires
"These topical reports are designed to explore facets of the U.S. fire problem as depicted through data collected in the U.S. Fire Administration's (USFA's) National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). Each topical report briefly addresses the nature of the specific fire or fire-related topic, highlights important findings from the data, and may suggest other resources to consider for further information. Also included are recent examples of fire incidents that demonstrate some of the issues addressed in the report or that put the report topic in context." Some of the findings of this study include: "An estimated 5,900 restaurant building fires are reported to U.S. fire departments each year and cause an estimated average of 75 injuries and $172 million in property loss. Cooking is the leading cause of all restaurant buildings fires at 59 percent. Nearly all of these cooking fires (91 percent) are small, confined fires with limited damage. While cooking is the leading cause of all restaurant building fires as well as confined restaurant building fires, electrical malfunction is the leading cause of the larger, nonconfined restaurant building fires. Nonconfined restaurant building fires most often start in cooking areas and kitchens (41 percent). Deep fryers (9 percent), ranges (7 percent), and miscellaneous kitchen and cooking equipment (5 percent) are the leading types of equipment involved in ignition in nonconfined restaurant building fires. Smoke alarms were reported as present in 44 percent of nonconfined restaurant building fires. In addition, full or partial automatic extinguishment systems, mainly sprinklers, were present in 47 percent of nonconfined restaurant building fires."
United States Fire Administration; United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2011-04
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Heating Fires in Residential Buildings (2017-2019)
From the Document: "From 2017 to 2019, heating fires in residential buildings accounted for an estimated annual average of 34,200 reported fires. These fires resulted in an estimated annual average of 165 deaths, 600 injuries and $367 million in property loss. The term 'heating fires' applies to those fires that are caused by central heating units, fixed or portable local heating units, fireplaces, heating stoves, chimneys, and water heaters. Previously, especially during the late 1970s and early 1980s, heating was, by far, the leading cause of residential building fires. Stimulated in part by an energy shortage, this surge in heating fires may be the result of the sudden increased use of alternative heating, particularly wood heating stoves and space heaters. Since then, the overall number of heating fires has substantially decreased. In 1983, there were 200,000 heating fires, but by 2015, that number had fallen to an estimated 41,200 heating fires and, by 2019, it fell even further to an estimated 33,100 heating fires (Table 1). Despite this decline, from 2017 to 2019, submitted incident reporting indicates heating remained the second leading cause and accounted for 9% of all residential building fires responded to by fire departments across the nation. As part of a series of topical reports that address fires in types of residential buildings, this report addresses the characteristics of residential building heating fires as reported to the NFIRS [National Fire Incident Reporting System]."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration
2021-12
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Portable Heater Fires in Residential Buildings (2017-2019)
From the Document: "From 2017 to 2019, portable heater fires in residential buildings -- a subset of heating fires in residential buildings -- accounted for an estimated annual average of 1,100 fires in the U.S. These fires resulted in an estimated annual average of 65 deaths, 150 injuries and $51 million in property loss. The term 'portable heater fires' applies to those fires that are caused by catalytic heaters, oil-filled heaters or other heaters, such as electric heaters, that are designed to be carried or moved for use in a variety of locations. Portable heaters are a subset of space heaters -- small heaters designed to heat specific areas or rooms of a building. While portable heater fires in residential buildings were only 3% of all heating fires in residential buildings, their consequences were substantial, accounting for 41% of fatal heating fires in residential buildings. Many of these fires were preventable, as human error was a contributing factor to the fire -- for example, placing the heater too close to combustible items or leaving the heater unattended. As part of a series of topical reports that addresses fires in types of residential buildings, this report addresses the characteristics of portable heater fires in residential buildings as reported to the NFIRS [National Fire Incident Reporting System]."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration
2021-12
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Analysis of NFIRS Data for Selected Wildfires Including Impacts in Wildland Urban Interface Areas
From the Executive Summary: "This analysis compares the publicly reported loss metrics (e.g., deaths, injuries, dollar losses and acres burned) from media and government sources for 6 named wildfires between 2016 and 2018 with the data reported by local fire departments to the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). The 6 wildfires were selected by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) to reflect a diversity of wildland urban interface (WUI) conditions, land management responsibilities, locations, terrains and climates: [1] Chimney Tops 2, Tennessee, 2016. [2] Northwest Oklahoma Complex, Oklahoma/Kansas, 2017. [3] West Mims, Georgia/Florida, 2017. [4] Spring Creek, Colorado, 2018. [5] Woolsey, California (Southern), 2018. [6] Camp, California (Northern), 2018. Overall, the data in the NFIRS for these wildfires significantly understates the publicly reported losses except for acres burned, which was often overreported in the NFIRS[.]"
United States Fire Administration; United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2022-01
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EMS Safety Practices [April 2022]
From the Document: "Merriam-Webster defines safety as 'the condition of being safe from undergoing or causing hurt, injury, or loss' (n.d.). Safety is important to all aspects of life to reduce risk of injury and death, but it is especially important for first responders. EMS [emergency medical services] practitioners work on the frontlines of emergencies and disasters where situations change quickly and an element of danger or uncertainty is already present. As a result, it is crucial that EMS providers think of safety frequently and plan in advance to handle various situations. [...] Many organizations and regulatory agencies develop and provide guidelines, standards and protocols for EMS safety. Some of these agencies include the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), as well as many others. Some of the policies developed by these organizations are guidelines, while others are legally binding. It is important that EMS department leaders follow changes in safety standards and requirements closely. Potential areas for change may include updating protocols, providing newly required equipment or delivering required training for personnel."
United States Fire Administration; United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2022-04
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Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2008
"This report continues a series of annual studies by USFA of onduty firefighter fatalities in the United States. The specific objective of this study is to identify all on-duty firefighter fatalities that occurred in the United States and its protectorates in 2008 and to analyze the circumstances surrounding each occurrence. The study is intended to help identify approaches that could reduce the number of firefighter deaths in future years. [...]. One-hundred and eighteen (118) firefighters died while on duty in 2008, the same number of firefighter fatalities as the previous year. This total includes firefighters who died under circumstances that are included in this report as a result of inclusion criteria changes resulting from the Hometown Heroes Act of 2003. The number of firefighter fatalities using the pre-Hometown Heroes criteria was 107, up by two fatalities in comparison to 2007."
United States Fire Administration; United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2009-09
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U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series: Chemical Fire in Apex, North Carolina
"This body of work provides detailed information on the nature of the fire problem and the many types of service provided by fire departments. The information informs policymakers, who must decide on allocations of resources between fire and other pressing problems, and personnel within the fire service, to improve codes and code enforcement, training, public fire education, building technology, and other related areas. For reports on major fires and other critical incidents to which fire departments respond, USFA, which has no regulatory authority, sends an experienced fire investigator into a community only after having conferred with the local fire authorities to ensure that USFA's assistance and presence would support, not interfere, with any local review of the incident. The intent is to arrive after the dust settles so that a complete and objective review of all the important aspects of the incident can be made. Local authorities review USFA's report while it is in draft form. The USFA investigator or team is available to local authorities should they wish to request technical assistance for their own investigation. […] The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) develops reports on selected major fires throughout the country. The fires usually involve multiple deaths or a large loss of property, but the primary criterion for deciding to write a report is whether it will result in significant 'lessons learned.' […] Under this project, USFA also develops special reports addressing a variety of issues that affect fire service such as homeland security and disaster preparedness, new technologies, training, fireground tactics, and firefighter safety and health. The reports are sent to fire magazines and are distributed at national and regional fire meetings"
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration
2008-04
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Fire in the United States: Deaths, Injuries, Dollar Loss, and Incidents at the National, State, and Local Levels in 1983, Sixth Edition
"Within the past ten years, a number of advances have been made in fire safety. Improvements in fire fighter training, standard operating procedures, building codes, consumer product regulation, public education and awareness have all contributed significantly. Despite these accomplishments, however, the most important tasks facing today's fire service remain the development of new and refined prevention methods. For these reasons, the U.S. Fire Administration has selected prevention as the central theme of the sixth edition of Fire in the United States--both to commend recent achievements in fire safety and to point to the need for continued program improvements. This sixth edition of Fire in the United States--as in past years--describes key features of the nation's fire problem. It includes detailed discussions on fire incidence, deaths, injuries, and losses to fire fighters and civilians. The sixth edition also addresses trends and, to the extent possible, forecasts the U.S. fire problem. […] In recent years, the U.S. Fire Administration has made tremendous strides in the development and refinement of its uniform data base--the National Fire Incident Reporting System. The effects of these advancements are apparent in the sixth edition of Fire in the United States. This edition bears the fruit of a substantial base of data: much of its contents are the result of the contributions of over 10,000 fire departments in reporting jurisdictions--participating states, municipalities, and the District of Columbia."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration
1987-07
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Vehicle Marking and Technology for Increased Highway Visibility: A Reference Guide for Decision-Makers [presentation]
"This resource guide serves to provide visual examples of various high-visibility marking schemes that have been applied to the rear and sides of a wide variety of vehicles; automobiles, pickup trucks, utility truck vehicles, SUVs, vans, box-type trucks, and even larger-size service vehicles. These service-oriented vehicles may be found positioned anywhere within the right-of-way of a freeway, highway, roadway, street, bridge, tunnel, etc during the course of their operator's normal work activity. The intent of increased vehicle visibility markings and emergency lighting packages is to make the vehicles more visible and identifiable to the approaching motorist sooner, when the motorist is further away from the marked vehicle. Increased visibility, yielding increased awareness of the presence of the vehicle and quicker recognition of the vehicle will potentially reduce the likelihood of collisions between these vehicles."
United States Fire Administration; National Institute of Justice (U.S.)
Moore, Ron
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East Bay Hills Fire: Oakland-Berkeley, California
"The largest dollar fire loss in United States history occurred in the East Bay Hills, within the California cities of Oakland and Berkeley, between October 19 and 22, 1991. Twenty-five lives were lost and more than 3,000 structures were destroyed by a wildland-urban interface fire in one of the most heavily populated metropolitan areas of the North American continent. The fire completely over-whelmed the firefighting forces of the area, consuming everything in its path, and was only stopped when the Diablo wind conditions abated. The wind had threatened to drive the fire across the entire city of Oakland. The factors that set the stage for this disaster were identified long before the fire occurred, and the potential consequences had been predicted by fire officials. Nevertheless, their warnings went unheeded, and the measures that could have reduced the risks were not implemented. More than one billion dollars in damage resulted from a fire that exceeded the worst expectations in the most concerned fire professionals. It was a fire that demonstrates how natural forces may be beyond the control of human intervention and should cause a renewed look at the risk of wildland-urban inter¬face fire disasters."
United States Fire Administration; United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
1991-10
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Evacuation of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania Due to Metal Processing Plan Fire [March 24, 1987]
"On March 24, 1987 shortly after midnight, an electrical fire at a metal processing plant in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania generated a cloud of potentially toxic fumes which caused 15,000 residents to be rousted from sleep and evacuated from their homes. Emergency workers operating from local and county Emergency Operations Centers staged an extraordinarily smooth and successful evacuation, including the relocation of over 250 hospital and nursing home patients. The disaster showcased the value of good emergency operations planning, training, coordination, and practice as well as the wisdom of pre-fire plans." Pictures and maps are included in this report.
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration
Stambaugh, Hollis
1987-03-24
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Tire Recycling Facility Fire: Nebraska City, Nebraska [January - February 2002]
"The members of the Nebraska City Fire Department were dispatched to a reported chimney fire at a housing complex for the elderly at 02:54 hours on the morning of Wednesday January 23, 2002. The first engine company to arrive on the scene discovered that the fire was actually located a few blocks away at the EnTire Recycling Center. The facility chips up old tires and produces a raw product that is used to manufacture synthetic athletic turf and playground surfaces. […] Cooling water was directed on the silos and liquid nitrogen was used in an attempt to smother the fire. An explosion occurred during the afternoon of the first day and injured thirteen firefighters. Four of the firefighters sustained injuries serious enough to require hospitalization. Fears of a subsequent explosion and a continuing possibility of collapse resulted in the firefighters adopting a defensive mode of operations. The fire was not fully extinguished until February 3, 2002 and required the efforts of emergency responders from over thirty fire and EMS agencies. Final extinguishment was accomplished by Williams Fire and Hazard Control, a private contractor renowned for the extinguishment of oil well and flammable liquid tanks fires. The firm was hired by the Environmental Protection Agency. The fire posed a significant environmental threat due its proximity to the Missouri River and the toxic byproducts of the burning tires. State and Federal environmental officials monitored the extinguishment effort throughout the incident. During the incident, portions of the community had to be evacuated on two occasions due to a potential for additional explosions and the toxicity of the smoke."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration
Cook, John Lee
2002-02-01?
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Fire Department Response to Biological Threat at B'nai B'rith Headquarters, Washington, D.C. [April 1997]
"On April 24, 1997, the District of Columbia Fire/EMS [Emergency Medical Services] Department (DCFEMS) responded to the Washington, D.C. offices of B'nai B'rith, an international Jewish organization, for a suspicious package. The package had been mailed to B'nai B'rith and contained a Petri dish labeled with wording which led local emergency responders to suspect the package might contain Anthrax and Yersinia, both disease-causing bacteria that have been used as biological weapons. Several occupants of the building complained of dizziness and headaches, additional factors that indicated the possible presence of a chemical agent as well. The DCFEMS established a perimeter around the site where the package was located, attempted to protect occupants of the B'nai B'rith building by isolating them in place, established a command post, and set up hazardous material decontamination procedures. After consultation with numerous national agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Biosafety Branch, responders engaged in hazmat operations to secure the package and its contents, which were then sent to a federal laboratory in Bethesda, Maryland. Laboratory tests revealed that the contents of the package were nonhazardous. […] Though there have been several chemical and biological incidents over the past few years, this incident received national media exposure and was broadcast live on CNN and other news networks, generating discussions among emergency responders as to the actions that took place. Though the threat was a hoax, the incident revealed many lessons for the fire service to share in preparation for any future threats."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration
Stern, Jeff
1997-04-24?
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Fire and Explosions at Rocket Fuel Plant, Henderson, Nevada [May 4, 1988]
"A series of explosions on May 4, 1988, near the City of Henderson, Nevada, claimed two lives, injured approximately 372 people including 15 firefighters, and caused damage estimated over $100 million. The explosions affected a large portion of the metropolitan Las Vegas area and caused the activation of disaster plans by several agencies. Considering the magnitude of the explosions, the loss of only two lives and the fact that only a few of the injuries were critical can be described as very fortunate. The incident presented tremendous risk and unusual challenge to the fire departments involved, but they managed the incident with relatively minor casualties. The lives of most of the plant employees were saved by their decision to evacuate the plant, prior to the major explosions. This and other key issues are summarized in the table on the following page."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration
Routley, J. Gordon
1988-05-04?
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Swimming Pool Chemical Plant Fire, Springfield, Massachusetts [June 17, 1988]
"One of the most challenging problems facing the fire service today is the combined fire and hazardous/toxic chemical incident. Decisions have to be made regarding the timing of fire fighting activities with respect to evacuation priorities. In many cases, a decision must be made as to whether or not to fight the fire at all. Where the chemicals or products involved are water reactive, fighting the fire may make matters worse, endangering the firefighters or the general population. Just such a situation presented itself to Chief Raymond Sullivan of the Springfield, Massachusetts Fire Department and the city's hazardous materials incident response team on Friday, June 17, 1988. The incident occurred in that part of an 87-year-old industrial building housing a company that produced water treatment chemicals for swimming pools. Rain leakage wetted chemicals that released chlorine along with sufficient heat to cause ignition of ordinary combustibles. In the course of the incident, large amounts of chlorine gas were released, triggering several levels of evacuation involving more than 6,000 people. The fire resulted in the collapse of a portion of the roof. The fire and corrosive action of the chlorine gas resulted in almost complete loss of the contents of both floors and caused significant structural damage prompting razing of the second floor. At the time this report was written it was not known whether the building would be reoccupied."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration
Custer, Richard L. P.
1988-06-17?
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Industrial Plastics Fire: Major Triage Operation, Flint Township, Michigan [November 29, 1988]
"On Tuesday, November 29, 1988 a fire occurred in a one-story Flint Township, Michigan factory that made polyurethane automobile bumpers. Chemicals used in manufacturing the bumpers and a large quantity of the bumpers burned. The fire resulted in about 96 people being checked at the hospital and the destruction of part of the metal building housing the factory, at a loss of $3,000,000. The primary problem in fighting this fire was' toxic smoke and the problem of having to access the fire from downwind. A county 'fire coordinators' system of incident command was successfully used to coordinate the activities at the fire and an evacuation of 150 people."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration
Copeland, Tom D.
1988-11-29?
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National Fire Incident Reporting System: Complete Reference Guide
From the Introduction: "This reference guide is a component of the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) Version 5.0. It provides both instructions for reporting data to NFIRS Version 5.0 and an understanding of the data elements collected by the system. It also serves as a reference for the coding of the data. NFIRS is a tool that fire departments use both to report fires and other incidents to which fire departments respond and to maintain records of these incidents in a uniform manner. NFIRS 5.0 is a modular, all-incident reporting system designed by the U.S. Fire Administration, a part of the Department of Homeland Security, with input from the fire service and other users of the data."
United States Fire Administration; United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2010-07
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Alive on Arrival: Tips for Safe Emergency Vehicle Operations
This document provides tips for emergency responders to prevent injuries or death from crashes involving emergency vehicles and personal vehicles responding to and returning from fires and other emergencies. Some tips include: "[1] Ensure that you are qualified and fully capable of
operating the emergency vehicle you are driving.
[2] Drive with due care. Operate an emergency vehicle
as you would if all those in your vehicle and on
the road around you are your family.
[3] Slower means safer. A good safety guideline is
not to exceed the posted speed limit. Drive even
slower when road conditions or visibility are poor."
United States Fire Administration; United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2010-01
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Operational Lessons Learned in Disaster Response
"The final two decades of the 20th century foreshadowed the future of the fire service in America. Forces
of natural disasters - earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes and acts of terrorism unleashed against
densely populated centers highlighted the role of firefighters in first response. The tragedies that arose from
the events of Sept. 11, 2001, and Hurricane Katrina proved the value of firefighters in the emergency management
equation. This occurred simultaneously with the self-examination by the fire service of its own
record of occupational safety and an effort to learn from its mistakes.
The fundamental doctrine of emergency management encompasses specific phases of human intervention
(i.e., preparation, mitigation, response, recovery) intended as a means of focusing our effort to withstand,
recover and restore from disaster. Significant disasters arise from extreme physical forces of nature, failures
of technological systems, and acts of terrorism. Emergency managers use the term "all-hazards" to denote
such events. Any of these events may require a response from first responders. However, first responder
agencies may lack the capacity to mitigate the hazards posed by such disasters or may be rendered inoperable
to some degree by the catastrophic impact of the event.
From that assumption, the USFA [United States Fire Administration] conducted research to identify gaps and needs in first responder training
and resources and to present solutions that serve to better prepare local-level fire services for all-hazard
events and to interact with federal resources. Local fire departments routinely handle the majority of
fires, rescues and medical emergencies without outside assistance. We generally categorize these as low-risk/high-frequency
events. However, a given fire department will typically have less experience with
large-scale natural disasters, technological accidents, and terrorist attacks. We categorize these events as
high-risk/low-frequency, any of which may impact the operational capacity of a fire department."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration
2015-06
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Evacuation of Personnel and Equipment from an Extreme or Catastrophic Hurricane: Developing a Decision Making Process
From the abstract: "The purpose of this research was to identify and implement a process of making the decision to evacuate personnel and equipment in the event of an extreme or catastrophic hurricane."
United States. Department of Homeland Security; United States Fire Administration
Teolis, Mark B.
2009-06
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Fire Risk in 2011
"The risk from fire is not the same for everyone. In 2011, 3,415 deaths and 17,500 injuries in the U.S. were caused by fires. These casualties were not equally distributed across the U.S. population, and the resulting risk of death or injury from fire is not uniform -- it is more severe for some groups than for others. Much can be learned from understanding why different segments of society are at a heightened risk from the fire problem. […] Risk is a factor, element or course of action involving uncertainty. It is an exposure to some peril, and it often implies a probability of occurrence, such as investment risk or insurance risk. In terms of the fire problem, risk is the potential for injury or death of a person or damage or loss of property as a result of fire. This topical report focuses on how fire risk, specifically the risk of death and injury, varies with age and how other demographic and socioeconomic factors weigh upon that risk."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration
2015-01
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America's Fire and Emergency Services Leader: Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2014-2018
From the Strategic Framework, page 9: "This Strategic Plan was created to help USFA [United States Fire Administration] achieve its vision and mission. The plan provides both strategic direction and operational focus. America's fire and emergency services progress is greatly enhanced by USFA's efforts to take the lead on issues important to the fire service. USFA will continue to partner with fire and emergency services and stakeholders to achieve the desired outcomes outlined in this Strategic Plan. Our goals are the foundation for our work leading toward a Fire Safe America."
United States Fire Administration; United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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Fire Safety Checklist for Older Adults
This document provides seven tips to help older adults protect themselves and other loved ones since "older people are at special risk for death and injury from fires." The document's fire safety tips can also be used as a checklist for older adults to help prevent and/or prepare for a fire.
United States Fire Administration; United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2010-05
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U.S. Fire Administration, Fire Service Operations for the Southeastern Tornados--April 2011
This report consolidates reviews of fire department and emergency medical services (EMS) activities in Alabama and Georgia during the April 2011 tornados. The report provides an insight into the procedures and needs of local fire and EMS agencies during disasters. Five overarching areas were repeatedly identified throughout the review: lack of disaster preparedness, need for more disaster management training, need for closer coordination and communication with State and Federal recovery staff, effective use of Incident Command System (ICS) in supporting operations, and need for Public Works to participate, learn, and practice ICS. The report also includes 66 specific observations and recommendations as well as four operational priorities.
United States Fire Administration; United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2012-04-01?
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Fire Service Operations for the Southeastern Tornados - April 2011
"On April 27, 2011, the southeastern United States experienced a devastating series of tornados starting in Mississippi, hitting Alabama and Georgia very hard, and trailing off into Tennessee. The dollar loss has been roughly tallied at $6 billion in insured losses and a total of over $10 billion for all losses. An estimated 336 lives were lost in the region's tornados and related events, with 239 of those in Alabama. At least 10,000 homes were heavily damaged or destroyed and dozens of public facilities were rendered inoperative. Many areas that were isolated by road closures and power outages extended over 2 weeks in some rural areas. At least five tornados were rated at EF5 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale), and, if laid end to end, the tornado tracks in this region would stretch across the country! A series of meetings was held in the summer of 2011 to look at fire department and emergency medical services (EMS) organization activities in Alabama and Georgia during the tornados. Over 50 representatives of impacted departments attended and each had an opportunity to respond to specific questions as well as provide a free range of their own inputs. This report condenses those meetings and inputs and provides an insight into the routines and needs of local fire and EMS agencies in disasters."
United States Fire Administration; United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2012-04
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Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2010
"This report continues a series of annual studies by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) of onduty firefighter fatalities in the United States. The specific objective of this study is to identify all onduty firefighter fatalities that occurred in the United States and its protectorates in 2010 and to analyze the circumstances surrounding each occurrence. The study is intended to help identify approaches that could reduce the number of firefighter deaths in future years."
United States Fire Administration; United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2011-09
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Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2013
From the background: "For 37 years, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has tracked the number of firefighter fatalities and conducted an annual analysis. Through the collection of information on the causes of firefighter deaths, USFA is able to focus on specific problems and contribute to efforts aimed at finding solutions to reduce the number of firefighter fatalities in the future. This information is also used to measure the effectiveness of current programs directed toward firefighter health and safety. Several programs have been funded by USFA in response to this annual report. For example, USFA has sponsored significant work in the areas of general emergency vehicle operations safety, fire department tanker/tender operations safety, firefighter incident scene rehabilitation, and roadside incident safety. The data developed for this report are also widely used in other firefighter fatality prevention efforts. In addition to the analysis, USFA, working in partnership with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), develops a list of all on-duty firefighter fatalities and associated documentation each year." From the Introduction: "This report continues a series of annual studies by USFA of on-duty firefighter fatalities in the United States. The specific objective of this study is to identify all on-duty firefighter fatalities that occurred in the U.S. and its protectorates in 2013 and to analyze the circumstances surrounding each occurrence. The study is intended to help identify approaches that could reduce the number of firefighter deaths in future years."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration
2014-11
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EMS Safety: Techniques and Applications
"This manual on Emergency Medical Services Safety has been developed to assist EMS providers in the reduction of line-of-duty injuries, illnesses and fatalities. It provides a framework for developing programs that will create an appropriate margin of health and safety during the performance of their duties."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration
1994-04
