VIDEO: The National Fire Protection Association reported 62 on-duty firefighter deaths in 2024, down from 90 in 2023; a 31% overall decrease. The report cites advances in practices and procedures for the decline. Chief Rich Stirts from the Logan-Rogersville Fire Protection District says safety starts at the station.
โFirst thing we do is check the truck, check the inventory, make sure your equipment is working properly,โ Chief Stirts said. โYour gear doesnโt have holes in it. The truck brakes are working. Safety is 24/7.โ According to the National Fire Protection Association, overexertion or strain injuries remain the leading cause of firefighter deaths, with 40 fatal injuries occurring in 2024.
When it comes to preventing exertion, Chief Stirts says keeping his guys cool is the top priority. โItโs very important that we stay hydrated when working fires in the summertime,โ Chief Stirts said. โAnd get that gear off because that gear holds in body heat, just like it holds out heat from the fire.โ
Firefighting gear can weigh between 40 and 70 pounds. That extra weight makes maintaining exertion in the heat difficult. โWe try to work out every day and be in good shape,โ Chief Stirts said. โAnd as with anything in life, the more physically fit you are, the healthier you are.โ Chief Stirts says at the end of the day, firefighting is about risk versus reward.
โDo we go into a burning building that is a fully 100% involved, or do we stay outside and not get anybody injured?โ Chief Stirts said. โAnd so you have to measure all that in your decision-making when you approach a fire.โ
