By Bill Carey
6 January 2025
To answer how many firefighters die each year in the line of duty while actively fighting fires, the data recorded is categorized as “interior” to distinguish between traumatic and non-traumatic line-of-duty deaths. Traumatic deaths include those caused by asphyxiation, burns, crushing, caught or trapped, while non-traumatic deaths result from stress and overexertion. This categorization applies specifically to incidents occurring during structure fires.
The “interior” classification also encompasses firefighters killed by building collapses while operating outside a burning structure.
This method of recording is not intended to prioritize one type of line-of-duty death over another but rather to provide a more accurate representation of firefighter fatalities.
Highlights:
- No firefighters died in an abandoned structure. The most recent is one in 2022.
- No firefighters died while searching for occupants. The most recent is three in 2021.
- No firefighters died falling through a roof or caught in a roof collapse while performing vertical ventilation. The most recent is one in 2011.
- The number of interior line of duty deaths in 2024 is the second-lowest number on record. The lowest is one in 2017.
Advancing Hoselines
Advancing Hoselines/Fire Attack, including Wildland, accounted for 18% (11 out of 61) of the total on-duty deaths recorded by the United States Fire Administration. Interior firefighter fatalities accounted for 6% (4 out of 61) of the total on-duty deaths.
Firefighter Marques Hudson, Plainfield Fire Department, 26 January
332 Emerson Avenue. Duplex
Company: Engine
Company Assignment: First Due
Cause of Death: Caught or Trapped
Nature of Death: Trauma
While fighting the fire, he became trapped and a mayday was called. Firefighter Hudson was immediately rescued and CPR was performed (USFA). “He either fell through the floor or fell down the stairs, and we don’t know the circumstances at this time…There was a mayday that went out, and once that happened, four firefighters went in and got him out within anywhere from two to four minutes.” (Plainfield Mayor Adrian O. Mapp).
No updates since as of 5 January 2024.
Captain Ronnie Metcalf, Lexington Fire Department, 29 March
306 West 5th Street. Single-Family
Company: Engine
Company Assignment: Unknown
Cause of Death: Unknown (IAFF lists Caught/Trapped – Flashover)
Nature of Death: Burns
An interior fire attack was initiated to extinguish the fire. A few minutes later, an order to evacuate was issued. The crews evacuated the structure and reported one firefighter missing (USFA). “Metcalf and another firefighter were combating the flames while two other firefighters searched for victims in the home. The city says there was “near-zero visibility” inside the home, and Captain Metcalf told his teammate that he was going to get more hose. A few moments later, the on-scene commander ordered the home evacuated. Metcalf did not evacuate with the others, and a rescue team went in. They found Metcalf and brought him out to EMS.” (FOX 8 WGHP)
Firefighter Marcelo Garcia, Houston Fire Department, November 2024
6536 Supply Row. Industrial, Manufacturing, Warehouse
Company: Engine
Company Assignment: Unknown
Cause of Death: Collapse
Nature of Death: Crushed
Firefighters were at the scene of a commercial structure fire. At approximately 11:05 p.m. a mayday was transmitted for a wall collapse. Firefighter Marcelo Garcia and another firefighter were immediately rescued and transported to the Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center (USFA).
Other
Firefighter Trevor Brown, Sterling Volunteer Fire Company, 16 February
347 Silver Ridge Drive. Single-Family
Company: Unknown
Company Assignment: Unknown
Cause of Death: Unknown
Nature of Death: Unknown
Firefighter Trevor Brown, located an underground propane tank with a leak on the side of the residence. A short time later, units on scene reported a catastrophic explosion concurrent with multiple maydays from firefighters inside the residence. A Rapid Intervention Task Force and a second alarm were requested, bringing additional units from Fairfax County and the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority. Upon receiving the multiple maydays and calls for help, fire and rescue crews worked to locate and rescue the trapped members from the debris (USFA).
Brown’s death could change to Scene Safety. In 2019, in Farmington, Maine Captain Michael Allen Bell was killed and six firefighters were injured while investigating a gas leak, an incident not unlike Brown’s.
Summary
This number of interior fatalities is the second-lowest number on record. Only one firefighter died inside a burning structure in 2017, San Antonio Firefighter Scott Deem, during a fire in a strip mall.
There were no firefighter deaths inside abandoned structures and no firefighter deaths while performing vertical ventilation.
There were no multiple firefighter fatality incidents inside burning structures in 2024. The last time this occurred was in 2022.
This information is subject to change based on updates from the United States Fire Administration and investigative reports.
Data Not Drama 
One thought on “2024 Report: Interior Deaths”