2016 NFPA Report on Firefighter Fatalities
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According to the NFPA’s "Firefighter Fatalities in the United States – 2016," the number of on-duty firefighter deaths continued to show a positive trend, with 69 fatalities recorded in 2016. This marked the fifth year in six where the total remained below 70, indicating an ongoing decline compared to historical averages.

Key Findings from the Report

  • The total number of on-duty firefighter deaths in 2016 was the lowest in over a decade, continuing a long-term downward trend.
  • Fireground-related deaths dropped to just 15, the lowest figure ever recorded in the 40-year history of the report.
  • Cardiac events and internal trauma were the leading causes, each accounting for 26 deaths.
  • Career firefighters saw their lowest death toll ever, with only 19 fatalities reported.

As reported by Firehouse.com, the NFPA’s annual analysis highlights both progress and ongoing concerns within the fire service. While the overall number of on-duty deaths reached a historic low in 2016, cardiac issues remained the top cause of fatalities, even though the number had decreased significantly from previous years.

“The data shows that we're making real progress,” said Rita Fahy, manager of fire databases and systems at the NFPA. “But it's important to remember that these numbers only reflect deaths that happen while firefighters are on duty.”

The report also notes that while on-duty fatalities have dropped sharply over the past five years—from an average of 150 per year in the early days of the study to just 73 annually between 2012 and 2016—there are still significant risks associated with the job that aren’t captured in these statistics. These include long-term health effects like cancer and PTSD, which are increasingly being recognized as serious occupational hazards.

Of the 69 total deaths in 2016, 39 were volunteers, 19 were career firefighters, and the rest involved various types of fire service personnel, including federal employees and industrial firefighters. The report also points out that vehicle accidents contributed to a rise in internal trauma deaths, increasing from 12% in 2015 to 25% in 2016.

Despite the encouraging trends, the NFPA emphasizes that the fight for firefighter safety is far from over. As more research emerges on the long-term health impacts of firefighting, the conversation around safety must continue to evolve beyond just on-duty incidents.

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