Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program

Purpose

The NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program (FFFIPP) conducts free, independent investigations of firefighter line-of-duty deaths and serious injuries. The program is dedicated to improving firefighter safety and informs prevention actions to help avoid similar events.

A firefighter walks towards a firetruck.

Overview

In 1998, Congress recognized the need to address the national problem of work-related firefighter deaths and serious injuries. They funded NIOSH to implement a firefighter safety initiative.

As a public health program, we do not enforce compliance with state or federal job safety and health standards. We do not determine fault or place blame on fire departments or individual firefighters. Additionally, investigation participation is voluntary.

Objectives

  • Describe characteristics of line-of-duty deaths or serious injuries
  • Identify key contributing factors
  • Develop and share actions to prevent similar deaths and injuries
  • Provide educational materials

New FFFIPP Factsheet

This factsheet describes the NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program (FFFIPP). Information in this factsheet includes the goal of FFFIPP, the types of investigations FFFIPP conducts, as well as how investigations are conducted.
View Factsheet

Request an investigation

We investigate deaths and serious injuries caused by trauma or medical emergencies.

Reminder

Fire department representatives, fire service organizations, and State Fire Marshals' Offices can request an investigation. FFFIPP may also reach out to departments to request an investigation. Find more information on the Request a FFFIPP Investigation webpage.

Impact

Since FFFIPP's start, we have investigated:

  • About 40% of all firefighter deaths in the United States
  • 700+ firefighter line-of-duty deaths

Investigation priorities may change based on the leading risks to firefighters as identified from fatality and serious injury data and fire service community input.

Reports and report slides

Findings from FFFIPP investigations are posted to our website. Our reports include:

  • A summary of the fire event
  • Factors that likely contributed to the death or serious injury
  • Actions to help prevent similar events

In November 2024, NIOSH launched our new Firefighter Safety and Health website. As a result, saved links to FFFIPP reports published prior to that date no longer work. Please update any bookmarks with new links.

Resource

See the FFFIPP Reports and Slides page or the Structure Fires page for resources.

Data

Fire Fighter Fatality Map

The Fire Fighter Fatality Map is down for repair. We hope to have an updated version available soon.

Fire service involvement

We participate on consensus standard setting committees, including the National Fire Protection Association technical committees for various standards. This allows us to submit key findings from our investigations to organizations and committees best positioned to influence change to improve firefighter safety and health.

Input from the fire service

NIOSH values input from the fire service community and regularly requests feedback on how to improve our services. Based on their input, NIOSH stands ready to make changes that reflect:

  • Ongoing experience with the fire service
  • Evolving knowledge about factors that put firefighters at risk of death and injury
  • Focusing on unique and emerging hazards identified by the fire service community

View material from the 2022 fire service community meeting:

Public Comment Docket

Fire Service Community Meeting Summary: Fire Service Suggestions and NIOSH Responses [PDF – 399 KB]

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Content Source:
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health