Fireground Civilian Rescue Research Project Weekly Report 3/28/21

3/28/2021

For 2021 we have documented 431 residential fire incidents with civilian rescues by U.S. firefighters. From these 431 incidents, 829 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 829 rescues, 229 follow up Firefighter Rescue Surveys have been completed for a 28% response rate. The 229 Firefighter Rescue Surveys are demonstrating a 76% survival rate for the fire victims who are rescued from the fire building by firefighters and evaluated for treatment by EMS.

When this 76% survival rate is applied to the total number of 829 rescues, it is estimated that 630 civilians have been saved through the direct actions of firefighters involved in fireground rescues 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