USFA Releases Annual Report on Firefighter Fatalities in the United States

USFA Media Contact: (301) 447-1853

September 29, 2010

Emmitsburg, MD – The United States Fire Administration (USFA) today released the report Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2009 (PDF, 2.7 Mb).  The report continues a series of annual studies by the USFA of onduty firefighter fatalities.  The USFA is the single public agency source of information for all onduty firefighter fatalities in the United States each year.

Ninety onduty firefighters from 33 states lost their lives as the result of incidents that occurred in 2009.  Pennsylvania experienced the highest number of fatalities (8).  In addition to Pennsylvania, only New York (7), North Carolina (6), Louisiana (5), and Texas (5), respectively, had five or more firefighter fatalities.  This compares favorably to 2008's firefighter losses where 9 states experienced 5 or more onduty fatalities.  The total number of fatalities in 2009 was one of the lowest totals in more than 30 years of record.

"Over the past ten years alone, the trend shows a 14 percent reduction in onduty firefighter fatalities but we must continue every effort to be sure that when it comes to firefighter health and safety, everyone goes home,” Acting United States Fire Administrator Glenn Gaines said.

The unique and specific objective of Firefighter Fatalities in the United States is to identify all onduty firefighter fatalities that occurred in the United States and its protectorates during the calendar year and to present in summary narrative form the circumstances surrounding each occurrence.

An overview of the 90 firefighters that died while on duty in 2009:

·         The total break down included 47 volunteer, 36 career, and 7 wildland agency firefighters.

·         There were 6 firefighter fatality incidents where 2 or more firefighters were killed, claiming a total of 13 firefighters' lives.

·         16 firefighters died in duties associated with wildland fires, compared to 26 such fatalities in 2008.

·         Activities related to emergency incidents resulted in the deaths of 57 firefighters.

·         30 firefighters died while engaging in activities at the scene of a fire.

·         15 firefighters died while responding to or returning from 13 emergency incidents in 2009.  This compares to 24 responding/returning fatalities in 2008.

·         10 firefighters died while they were engaged in training activities.

·         14 firefighters died after the conclusion of their onduty activity.

·         Heart attacks were the most frequent cause of death with 39 firefighter deaths.

For 33 years, USFA has tracked the number of firefighter fatalities and conducted an annual analysis.  Through the collection of information on the causes of firefighter deaths, the USFA is able to focus on specific problems and direct efforts toward finding solutions to reduce the number of firefighter fatalities in the future.  This information is also used by many organizations to measure the effectiveness of their current efforts directed toward firefighter health and safety.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, which worked closely with USFA on this report, also maintains a list of firefighters who die in the line-of-duty and are honored during the annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend held each October in Emmitsburg, Maryland.  Visit www.FireHero.org for more information about the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and their assistance to the families of the firefighters lost in 2009 and beyond.

Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted on the USFA's website.

LODD

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Hinsdale, IL

Mark Johnson of the Hinsdale Fire Department in Hinsdale, IL has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-09-2

Fire Department mourns the loss of Deputy Chief Mark Johnson. Please click for more information and arrangements.

Fire Department mourns the loss of Deputy Chief Mark Johnson     It is with deep regret that the Hinsdale Fire Department announces the Line of Duty death on Monday September 20th of Deputy Chief Mark Johnson, a twenty-four year veteran of the Department.

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Irvine, CA

James M. Owen of the Orange County Fire Authority in Irvine, CA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-09-16

AURORA REGIONAL FIRE MUSEUM

News,  Notes,  and Announcements from the
AURORA REGIONAL FIRE MUSEUM

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Aurora Regional Fire Museum Opens New Exhibit and Offers Free Admission on Smithsonian Magazine’s 6th Annual Museum Day Exhibit, “Museums Un-Crated” offers an inside look at how and why museums collect, use, and preserve things

On Saturday, September 25, 2010, the Aurora Regional Fire Museum will open their new exhibit “Museums Un-Crated” which features nineteen rare firefighting artifacts recently transferred from the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History to the collection of the Aurora Regional Fire Museum.
It’s a well-known movie ending. The legendary Ark of the Covenant has been rescued from evil, only to be boxed up in a wooden crate, stenciled with an identification number, and then seemingly lost inside a vast storage warehouse.
Although the movie’s plot is pure fiction, large museums such as the Smithsonian do have gigantic collection warehouses where objects are stored in wooden crates. The catalyst for the new exhibit at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum is the recent transfer of nineteen rare firefighting artifacts from the collections storage warehouse of the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History to the Aurora Regional Fire Museum. Why did the Smithsonian decide to offer these objects to another museum, and why did the fire museum accept them? Who decides what a museum should collect and what should be exhibited? How do museums use the things in their collections, and where do they keep the objects not on display?
In short, the Aurora Regional Fire Museum’s new exhibit "Museums Un-Crated" opens the mythical wooden storage crates of a museum, and gives visitors an inside look at how and why museums collect, use, and preserve things.
In addition to the new exhibit, the Aurora Regional Fire Museum will join participating museums and cultural institutions nationwide in opening their doors free of charge on Saturday September 25, 2010 for the Smithsonian Magazine’s sixth annual Museum Day.
In a journey to celebrate our world’s dynamic heritage and cultural life, participating Museum Day venues emulate the free admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, DC-based facilities. Museum Day 2010 is poised to be the largest to date, outdoing last year’s record-breaking event. Over 300,000 museum-goers and 1,300 venues in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico participated in Museum Day 2009.
Listings and links to participating museums, and a free Museum Day Ticket is available to download at www.smithsonian.com/museumday. Visitors who present the official pass will gain free admission for two people at participating museums and cultural venues. One ticket is permitted per email address.

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The exhibit "Museums Un-Crated" will be open Sept. 25th though 2011. For the latest hours, exhibit, and special event information, visit the Aurora Regional Fire Museum's website:

http://www.AuroraRegionalFireMuseum.org

Remembering 9/11 NEVER FORGET

Some Links for you

All 343 Members Murdered on 9/11

FDNY - The Official Fire Department, City of New York, Web Site 

THE UNOFFICIAL HOME PAGE OF FDNY New York City Fire Department

IAFF Remembers the 9/11 Fallen

September 11, 2010– Today marks the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, DC and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. On that terrible day, 347 IAFF members, including 343 FDNY fire fighters, lost their lives.

 Never Forget

Reminder -- Fly the American Flag on 9/11

THE PROGRAM:
On Saturday, September 11th, 2010, an American flag should be
displayed outside every home, apartment, office, and store in the United
States . Every individual should make it their duty to display an
American flag on this ninth anniversary of one our country's worst
tragedies. We do this honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11, their
families, friends and loved ones who continue to endure the pain, and
those who today are fighting at home and abroad to preserve our
cherished freedoms.
In the days, weeks and months following 9/11, our country was bathed
in American flags as citizens mourned the incredible losses and stood
shoulder-to-shoulder against terrorism. Sadly, those flags have all but
disappeared. Our patriotism pulled us through some tough times and it
shouldn't take another attack to galvanize us in solidarity. Our
American flag is the fabric of our country and together we can prevail
over terrorism of all kinds.
Action Plan:
So, here's what we need you to do ...
Take a moment to think back to how you felt on 9/11 and let those sentiments guide you.
Fly an American flag of any size on 9/11. Honestly, Americans
should fly the flag year-round, but if you don't, then at least make it
a priority on this day.
Thank you for your participation.
God Bless You and God Bless America !!!

Included some useful link for you:

Flag Rules and Regulations

USFlag.org: A website dedicated to the Flag of the United States ...

History of American Flag | USA Flag Site

Pink Fire Engine

Guardians of the Ribbon

Worth while event taking place. Have not had the opportunity to see this in person.

Pink Fire Truck Tours, visit pinkfiretrucks.org.

The Pink Fire Trucks are making a pit stop in Eden Prairie next week and the Eden Prairie Fire Department is throwing a party!
Stop by to enjoy fun for the whole family and help defeat cancer.

Tuesday, Aug. 24  4-9 p.m.
Purgatory Creek Park,  13001 Technology Drive
The evening will feature kids activities, live music, a silent auction, cancer survival stories and much more!
Click here to learn more.

The event includes:

• Squirt House
• Silent Auction
• Inflatable's
• Kids Activities
• Bean Bag Toss
• Live Music
• Survival Stories

Plus, dine at participating South West Station restaurants and a portion of your purchase will help fight cancer!

All proceeds from the event benefit the American Cancer Society.

Parking is limited. Please consider car pooling and look for event parking signs in the area.

To learn more about the Pink Fire Truck Tours, visit pinkfiretrucks.org.

Acute cyanide poisoning

Training for first responders on antidote for acute cyanide poisoning from fire smoke
http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100706/Training-for-first-responders-on-antidote-for-acute-cyanide-poisoning-from-fire-smoke.aspx
Training program includes appropriate air management practice for firefighters, the correction of myths and misunderstandings about fire smoke, and instruction about new antidotal treatment therapies for smoke inhalation victims.
Since January 1, 2010 the CPTC has tracked 1,100 civilians treated for smoke inhalation, 413 smoke inhalation deaths, and 125 firefighters who were transported for smoke inhalation treatment. Contrary to popular belief, whether a civilian or a firefighter, smoke inhalation isn't a minor injury - it's deadly.
Annually thousands of civilians die from smoke inhalation because they don't wear air masks to prevent smoke exposure from a fire they never thought would strike. On the other hand, firefighters are exposed to smoke by profession - not accidentally. According to Kevin Reilly, president of the CPTC and Ridgewood NJ firefighter: "Firefighters have self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to prevent smoke inhalation, but many firefighters don't use air when they should, and are therefore exposed to what we call, The Toxic Twins, CO and HCN, which work synergistically to kill."
Acute and chronic smoke exposure caused by firefighters not wearing and using air is more than likely the cause of heart attacks, diseases and illnesses which now plague the profession. In a message to fire service leaders Capt. Mike Gagliano, Seattle Fire Department, said, "I can think of no greater hypocrisy than fire service leaders berating politicians for not caring about firefighters until one of us dies, while exhibiting the exact same behavior when they look the other way and ignore shoddy air management practices in the hope that nothing goes wrong inside the fire. Hope is not a plan. Air management is."
Fire smoke myths and misunderstandings will also be corrected. "I recently heard a firefighter state that smoke color is indicative of the presence of hydrogen cyanide," said Rob Schnepp, Chief of Special Operations for the Alamenda County (CA) Fire Department. "That is absolutely not true. HCN and CO are colorless gases. The last thing we need in the fire service is misinformation. Determining whether HCN is or is not present on the fireground cannot be based on the color of smoke. This training program guarantees firefighters will receive accurate research and information from qualified and respected HCN and fire industry experts," said Schnepp.
First responders will also learn about the Cyanokit or Hydroxocobalamin, an effective and safe antidote for acute cyanide poisoning from fire smoke. In fact, it has saved the lives of several firefighters and civilians in the last two years. "Clearly, this will be the most comprehensive live saving and behavior changing HCN training program that exists. In addition, as more first responders learn how to treat smoke inhalation with the Cyanokit, we anticipate a reduction in the number of civilian smoke inhalation deaths," said Shawn Longerich, executive director. The program will officially launch at FDIC in March, 2011.