As of May 1, 50 firefighters have died in the line of duty this year, 10 more than died by this time last year. If the trend continues, 2005 will be the deadliest year for firefighters (not including Sept 11 deaths) since the 1970s.

With hopes to curb this deadly trend, the International Association of Fire Chiefs and 14 other leading national fire service organizations are calling for a “Stand Down for Firefighter Safety” on June 21.

According to the IAFC, a stand down is a method used by the military “to correct an issue that has been identified as a problem throughout its ranks.” For the stand down, fire departments are urged to suspend all non-emergency activity on June 21 and focus on firefighter safety.

“Firefighters are being killed at an alarming rate. The fire service simply cannot continue to do business as usual when so many of its own are dying,” said IAFC President Chief Bob DiPoli. “We are conducting the stand down to raise awareness of the need for increased vigilance toward firefighter safety.”

The IAFC has posted a Web page supporting the stand down call by listing specific activities and resources departments can use to plan their stand down. Career, combination and volunteer departments are urged to participate.

The partnering organizations urge all fire departments to use the day to talk about the cause of line-of-duty deaths, check all apparatus and equipment, discuss health and safety regulations, review fireground safety issues and take stock of training exercises and fitness goals.

“We must call attention to the unacceptable number of line-of-duty deaths and injuries plaguing our fire departments,” said DiPoli. “During the Safety Stand Down, fire departments all around the nation will have thorough, honest conversations about firefighter health and safety, and maybe we do something to stop these deaths.”

Partnering Organizations
International Association of Fire Chiefs
National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
United States Fire Administration
International Association of Fire Fighters
National Volunteer Fire Council
National Fire Protection Association
International City/County Management Association
National Association of State Fire Marshals
North American Fire Training Directors
Canadian Fire Chiefs Association
Congressional Fire Service Institute
International Association of Arson Investigators
Fire & Emergency Manufacturers Services Association
International Fire Service Training Association
Fire Department Safety Officers’ Association

After the stand down, the IAFC asks departments to e-mail a summary of their activities and comments to standdown@iafc.org. For more information, call the IAFC at 703-273-0911.