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Average response time to structural fires (FDNY dispatch and travel time only) (minutes:seconds)
Protect lives and property from fire hazards and other emergency conditions. — Promptly respond to fires and other emergencies.
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 4 min 32 sec | 4 min 14 sec |
| FY23 | 4 min 31 sec | 4 min 14 sec |
| FY24 | 4 min 33 sec | 4 min 14 sec |
| FY25 | 4 min 35 sec | 4 min 14 sec |
| FY26 (YTD) | 4 min 39 sec | 4 min 14 sec |
4 min 39 sec in FY26 — missed the City's own target for this indicator (25 sec above the 4 min 14 sec target), and it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
The modern FDNY traces to the Metropolitan Fire Department, created by an 1865 New York State law establishing a paid, professional fire department to replace the city's volunteer companies. The shift was driven by the rise of steam fire engines, which made hand-operated volunteer apparatus outdated, the city's rapid growth, and pressure from insurance companies that wanted a more reliable, professionalized fire response. The first professional unit went into service on July 31, 1865. That basic mandate, protecting lives and property from fire and other hazards, remains FDNY's core function 160 years later.
Source: Fire Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) System — via NYC Open Data: Mayor's Management Report, Agency Performance Indicators
Coverage shown: FY22–FY26, reported monthly.
Definition: The average dispatch and travel time until the first fire unit arrives on the scene of a structural fire counting from the time FDNY’s dispatcher receives the call or notification of request for assistance.