The U.U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) is committed to improving the health and safety of firefighters. This mission has created an accompanying interest in learning about the causes of firefighter deaths and injuries. In the process of researching firefighter deaths, it was determined that forensic medicine had no standard protocol that would assist a coroner or medical examiner specifically in determining the cause of a firefighter death. Many purposes for firefighter autopsy are related to ensuring benefits in addition to providing an improved understanding of fireground hazards and the effectiveness of firefighting equipment. I n 1993, the USFA initiated a project to develop a standard firefighter autopsy protocol. Experts in forensic pathology, toxicology, epidemiology, and medicolegal aspects of autopsy. This protocol effectively served the forensic professional and provided a basis for examining firefighter deaths more consistently.