The U.S. Fire Administration recently released its provisional report showing that there were 115 line of duty firefighter fatalities in 2007.

Of those deaths, 42.06% were career and 51.3% were volunteer firefighters. Thirty-four states recorded at least one death with South Carolina, Pennsylvania and California having the most (11,10 and nine, respectively). Nine of South Carolina's fatalities came in a June furniture store fire. That was one of seven fires with multiple fatalities.

Stress or overexertion was listed as the leading cause, accounting for 47.8% of the deaths; vehicle collisions were second with 22.6%. Heart attacks were the nature of the fatality in 45.2% of the deaths, with 40% having died while not on the scene. Of those who died, 37.4% were not yet 40 years old.

And 2008 is off to a bad start with three fatalities already.

Lt. John Martinson, 40, with the Fire Department of New York, died Jan. 3, while battling a fire in a 25-story building. He became trapped and was in cardiac arrest. He had 14 years of service.

Sixty-five year old Donald Paterson of the Kimball Township (Mich.) Fire Department died on Jan. 1. He had been on standby at the firehouse. While driving home, he experienced chest pains and died later at the hospital. He had 35 years of service.

Oregon Hill (N.C.) Volunteer Fire Department's Paul Lewis Ellington, 36, became the year's first fatality on Jan. 1, when he died in a vehicle accident while responding to a residential fire. He had 17 years of service.