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 was released by National Wildfire Coordinating Group's Safety & Health Working Team, with confirmation of 2004 fatalities from the National Fire Protection Association.

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.

“In other words, on number of fires we were at about 82% of the 10-year average, but we burned 182% of the average acres,” said Apicello.

Apicello also attributes the decrease in fire deaths to a “heightened awareness of individual responsibility for safety and better decision-making.” 2003 was one of the worst years for wildland fire fatalities since 1996.

“Safety consciousness has been raised with such high-visibility incidents from the past few seasons, such as the 30-Mile Fire and the Cramer Fire,” Apicello said. “I think people are making better decisions.”

20 Firefighters who died in the line of duty in wildland incidents

From heart attacks, seven while firefighting and two during work capacity tests 9

5 While driving, in a total of eight accidents involving 21 personnel

In aviation accidents, two in single-engine air tankers and one in a helicopter 3

1 In a prescribed fire, one of four such accidents involving six total personnel

In a burnover, one of six total incidents that involved 44 personnel 1

1 While crossing the road