Define: Firemans Rule

The Fireman’s Rule is a legal doctrine that limits the liability of property owners or occupants for injuries suffered by firefighters or other emergency responders while performing their duties. According to this rule, firefighters are considered to assume the risks inherent in their profession when responding to emergencies, and property owners are not typically held responsible for injuries that occur as a result of those risks. The Fireman’s Rule aims to protect property owners from being held liable for injuries that are directly related to the hazards firefighters are trained to address. However, there may be exceptions to this rule depending on the circumstances of the case and the laws in the jurisdiction.

This rule, in jurisdictions which accept it, states that people who are employed as rescuers in a professional capacity — fireman, coastguards, etc., — have no action in Negligence against people who create the danger they seek to alleviate. There is no fireman’s rule in English law: a fireman who is injured while rescuing a person from a fire that was caused negligently can sue the person who caused the fire.

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This glossary post was last updated: 29th March 2024.