Protesters demand for a fifth firefighter on all FDNY crews

FDNY firefighters and advocates are calling for an urgent increase in staffing levels, demanding the addition of a fifth firefighter to 86 engine companies operating in some of the city’s busiest areas. The push is framed as a critical necessity for both public and firefighter safety.

The Push for Increased Staffing

FDNY Deputy Chief Jim Brosi emphasized the need for more resources, stating, “We need as many trained hands as humanly possible on scene as fast as possible.”

Brosi described the effort as a public safety initiative. He noted that as the population increases and the city moves more vertically, mass casualty incidents seem to increase on a daily basis.

Did You Know? Most fire engine companies in the city maintained a fifth crew member until 2011, when the role was reduced to help balance the city’s budget in response to the financial crisis.

Current Staffing Realities

Currently, only 20 of the nearly 200 engine companies are staffed with a fifth crew member. This staffing gap has become a central point of contention for those seeking to restore previous levels.

City Council Speaker Julie Menin has identified securing funding for a fifth firefighter as one of the council’s top priorities. Menin supports the addition to provide essential support to crews on the ground.

According to Menin, increased funding would prioritize deployment in neighborhoods most impacted by fire-related fatalities and structural fires, where the difference between life and death can be “literally just seconds.”

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter notes that the tension here lies between historical fiscal austerity and the evolving physical landscape of the city. As urban density increases and buildings grow taller, the operational demands on first responders shift, potentially making the 2011 staffing model obsolete in the face of modern structural risks.

The Human Cost of Staffing Gaps

The urgency of the request is underscored by recent tragedies. This year, the city has seen 30 fatal fires, representing a 60% increase in fire deaths compared to the same period last year.

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Haji Dukuray, who lost five family members ranging in age from 5 to 49 during the 2022 Twin Parks high-rise fire in the Bronx, expressed the personal toll of these gaps. The Twin Parks fire killed 17 people and remains one of the worst in the city’s history.

“I was just wishing to myself, if only there [were] an additional firefighter,” Dukuray said, suggesting that an extra person on scene might have changed the outcome for his family.

Potential Paths Forward

Andrew Ansbro, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York, which represents 20,000 active and retired firefighters, believes an extra firefighter could have saved lives during the Twin Parks tragedy.

Ansbro argued that additional staffing would have allowed water to reach the fire faster, reducing heat and deadly smoke, while allowing firefighters to remove victims trapped in stairwells more efficiently.

Regarding implementation, Ansbro suggested that the FDNY could potentially staff engine companies with a fifth firefighter immediately, though this may require a ramp-up in hiring efforts at a later date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are firefighters demanding a fifth crew member?

Advocates and firefighters argue This proves a matter of public and firefighter safety, especially as the city’s population grows and buildings become taller, leading to an increase in mass casualty incidents.

How many engine companies currently have a fifth firefighter?

Out of nearly 200 engine companies, only 20 currently have a fifth crew member.

What caused the reduction in staffing in 2011?

The fifth firefighter role was reduced in 2011 as a measure to help balance the city’s budget during the financial crisis.

Do you believe city budgets should prioritize staffing increases for emergency services during periods of urban growth?