According to the National Interagency Fire Center, 20 line-of-duty deaths were recorded in wildland fire incidents last year, a 33% decrease from the 30 deaths recorded in 2003.

The final safety report released by National Wildfire Coordinating Group Safety & Health Working Team, with confirmation of 2004 fatalities from the National Fire Protection Association, reports fatalities last year in the following categories:

• Nine from heart attacks: two associated with work capacity tests and seven related to firefighting.
• Five while driving: eight accidents involved 21 personnel total.
• Three in aviation accidents: two in single-engine air tankers and one in a helicopter.
• One in a prescribed fire: four accidents occurred on prescribed fires involving six firefighters.
• One in burnover/entrapment: six incidents occurred involving 44 personnel; 12 shelters deployed.
• One pedestrian accident: Firefighter killed while crossing a road.

A relatively light wildland season in most of the lower 50 states was a major contributing factor to the decrease, said NIFC spokesman Mike Apicello. Nationally, 2004 was rated a “light to moderate” year for fires, with 65,461 fires burning 8 million acres. The number of fires was well below the 10-year average of 80,224 fires per year, while the acres burned were well above the average — about 8 million. By comparison, 85,943 fires burned in 2003 over 4.9 million acres.

Apicello also attributes the decrease in fire deaths to a “heightened awareness of individual responsibility for safety and better decision-making.” after high-profile incidents like the Thirty Mile and Cramer Fires. 2003 was one of the worst years for wildland fire fatalities since 1996.