New York Firefighters: 10 Questions Answered

1/ When were the New York Fire Department founded?

• The first fire service in New York dates back to 1648. However, the Metropolitan Fire Department, the predecessor of today’s Fire Department of the City of New York, was officially established on July 31, 1865.
• By coincidence, the New York Fire Department was founded the same year as the London Fire Brigade. That said, New York’s firefighters came nearly 70 years after the Paris Fire Brigade was created in 1793.
• The Metropolitan Fire Department was reorganized in 1870, when it adopted its current name: the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY).

2/ How many firefighters work for the New York Fire Department?

• The Fire Department of the City of New York is the largest fire department in the United States. The FDNY employs just over 17,000 people, including approximately 10,800 firefighters and 4,300 paramedics.

3/ Are there women firefighters in the New York Fire Department?

• The New York Fire Department currently has 58 women in its ranks. This number is expected to grow as new recruits join.
• Being a firefighter doesn’t prevent women from being mothers. The FDNY notes that one-third of its female firefighters have children.
• Historically, New York hired the first female firefighter in the United States in 1815. A formerly enslaved woman named Molly Williams joined the Oceanus Engine Company 11.

4/ What is the nickname for New York firefighters?

• New York firefighters are known as “New York’s Bravest.” They certainly earned that title when they rushed into the stairwells of the World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001, without hesitation. In New York, you’ll quickly notice that firefighters are deeply respected.

5/ What is the connection between New York firefighters and Ireland?

• In New York firehouses, you’ll often see Irish flags and quickly meet firefighters with Irish surnames. Since the Civil War, Irish immigrants have dominated the fire service. This calling has often been passed down from father to son.
• Today, many New York firefighters have Irish roots. In fact, 40% of the 343 firefighters and paramedics who died on September 11, 2001, were of Irish descent.

6/ How many firehouses are there in New York?

• The Fire Department of the City of New York operates 218 firehouses spread across New York’s five boroughs. In Manhattan, you won’t have to walk far to find one.
• You can often peek inside a firehouse or even tour the garage where the trucks are kept, provided you ask permission first. Firehouses aren’t museums. Read my article on how to visit a New York firehouse.
• Don’t miss the famous firehouse that served as the set for the film Ghostbusters. Check out my article on the Ghostbusters firehouse in New York. Also worth seeing: the World Trade Center firehouse in New York.

7/ How many calls does the New York Fire Department respond to?

• The Fire Department of the City of New York describes itself as the “busiest fire department in the world.” New York firefighters respond to approximately one million calls each year, ranging from suspicious gas smells to major fires.
• The three most common reasons for calls are electrical short circuits, smoke investigations, and kitchen fires.

8/ How much do New York firefighters earn?

• The average annual salary for a New York firefighter is approximately $48,000. New York firefighters work on a unique schedule with 24-hour shifts.

9/ Are there volunteer firefighters in New York?

• Alongside professional firefighters, the Fire Department of the City of New York has 9 volunteer companies. These companies provide backup during calls in outlying neighborhoods. Examples include the Gerritsen Beach company at the edge of Brooklyn, Edgewater Park in the Bronx, Hamilton Beach in Queens, and Staten Island.

10/ Which fire department is twinned with New York?

• If I asked you to name the most famous fire departments in the world, you’d likely mention New York and Paris. It’s no surprise that the New York and Paris fire departments have been twinned since 2002.
• A New York Fire Department truck had the honor of participating in the July 14, 2002 parade on the Champs-Élysées. This partnership primarily facilitates the exchange of experience between the two departments.