New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Fire Department of New York (FDNY) Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro announced on December 16 that FDNY personnel responded to a record number of emergency calls in 2014, which likely will exceed 1.6 million by December 31–the highest total ever in the agency’s 149-year history.
“I’m proud to mark this impressive achievement,” Mayor de Blasio said during the press conference at Rescue 1 in Manhattan. “The professionalism of this Department makes all this possible. Whatever the call is, they are working to protect the people of New York.”
The previous record high was in 2012 when the agency responded to 1.575 million emergencies.
Fire responses are up nine percent, largely due to an increase in reported gas emergencies; and emergency medical service calls rose three percent, continuing a nearly 20-year trend in rising EMS responses citywide.
“Our firefighters, paramedics and EMTs members serve and protect the people of New York City every single day,” Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said. “They are willing to help anytime, anywhere.”
Preliminary Statistics
Firefighters responded this year to nearly 18,000 more gas/unknown odor emergency calls in 2014 than 2013–stemming largely from heightened concern and awareness following the explosion in East Harlem on March 12, which killed eight people. Following the tragic incident, the Mayor and Commissioner urged New Yorkers to call 911 and report any suspected gas leaks.
Gas emergencies:
2013 26,024
2014 43,692 (+68 percent)
Fire Related Deaths Remain at Near Record Lows
As of Dec. 15, there have been 68 fire-related deaths in New York City–one more than in 2013. (This includes the eight deaths that occurred at the East Harlem gas explosion.)
The overall trend for fire deaths remains the lowest in city history: During the last five years, fewer New Yorkers have died in fires than in any comparable five-year period since accurate record-keeping began in 1916.
Fire-related deaths:
2014 68 (thru December 15)
2013 67
2012 58
2011 66
2010 62
The record high number of fire deaths in New York City was 310 in 1970.
Serious Fires
Serious fires are up slightly in 2014–about two percent–but are down more than four percent overall in comparison to the previous four year trend (2010-2013).
Serious fires (one alarm and higher):
2014 2,380
2013 2,333
2012 2,549
2011 2,504
2010 2,573
EMS Responses
While the total number of EMS incidents increased more than three percent in 2014, responses to calls categorized as life-threatening (e.g., cardiac arrest, unconscious and choking) rose by six percent, to 459,366 — up from 431,630 the previous year. Non-life threatening medical incidents increased to 930,719 in 2014, up from 920,859 in 2013.
Total EMS Responses
2014 1,289,854 (+3 percent)
2013 1,249,530
This continues the upward trend of steady increases in medical emergencies since the FDNY and NYC EMS merged in 1996. From 1996 to 2014, EMS responses have increased in 15 of 18 years, and have increased overall about 28 percent compared to 1996.
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