FDNY Has Had Its Busiest Year Ever: de Blasio New York’s Bravest is on Pace to Respond to 1.6 Million Emergency Calls by the End of 2014

NY Daily News – December 17, 2014

by Erin Durkin

The Fire Department has had its busiest year ever. The FDNY is on pace to respond to 1.6 million emergency calls by the end of 2014, the highest number ever recorded, Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Daniel Nigro said Tuesday.

That tops a record of 1.575 million in 2012, and is up from 1.55 million in 2013.

Fire deaths have jumped slightly — there have been 68 so far this year, compared to 67 in all of 2013.

The number of gas emergencies spiked by 68% this year, to 43,692. Officials said that’s because New Yorkers have been more likely to report gas leaks since the deadly East Harlem building explosion.

“Our fire department protects us, often under the most adverse situations,” de Blasio said. “It’s the finest fire department in the world.”