Fireground Civilian Rescue Research Project Weekly Report 3/21/21

3/21/2021

For 2021 we have documented 411 residential fire incidents with civilian rescues by U.S. firefighters. From these 411 incidents, 768 civilians were removed by the direct actions of firefighters. This demonstrates that at residential fires where a rescue is made, odds are multiple victims will be encountered.

From those 768 rescues, 216 follow up Firefighter Rescue Surveys have been completed for a 28% response rate. The 216 Firefighter Rescue Surveys are demonstrating a 74% survival rate for the fire victims who are rescued from the fire building by firefighters and evaluated for treatment by EMS.

When this 74% survival rate is applied to the total number of 768 rescues, it is estimated that 568 civilians have been saved through fireground rescues by firefighters already this year.

Our firefighters and our civilians need to know that rescues are not only possible but probable. Please continue to share and support the Firefighter Rescue Survey and the mission of evidence based vigilance.

Brian Brush
Brush@okstate.edu