Legal Definitions - friendly fire

Definition: Friendly fire is when a person or group accidentally harms their own side during a military or police operation. It can also refer to a fire that is burning where it is supposed to, but still causes unintended damage.

During a battle, a soldier may accidentally shoot at their own team member, causing injury or death. This is an example of friendly fire in a military context.

In a police chase, officers may accidentally hit a civilian's car while trying to stop a suspect. This is an example of friendly fire in a police context.

Another example of friendly fire is when a controlled fire, such as a prescribed burn, gets out of control and damages property or harms wildlife.

These examples illustrate how friendly fire can occur in different situations and can have serious consequences, even when it is unintentional.