FDNY Strategic Plan 2025
Eric Adams Mayor Robert S. Tucker Commissioner
MISSION
As first responders to fires, medical emergencies, critical public safety incidents, and acts of terrorism, the Fire Department of the City of New York’s (FDNY’s) Best and Bravest are on the front lines, protecting the lives and property of New York City’s residents and visitors alike.
The FDNY advances public safety through emergency response, fire prevention, investigation, and outreach and education. The timely delivery of these services positions the FDNY as a key contributor to the overall safety of New York City and homeland security efforts.
LETTER FROM LEADERSHIP
The 2025 Strategic Plan is a roadmap for how we continue to bring this department further into the 21st century. We will integrate Fire and EMS, reduce medical response times, and invest in all of our members’ health and safety.
The FDNY is the largest fire department in the country and the second largest in the world. There is no fire—big or small—that we have not put out, and we continue to run toward danger when others retreat. Our work poses great risk to our members, and yet we are experts in the field. What New Yorkers know that others may not is that the FDNY is an all-hazards emergency response agency—medical, fire, investigations, inspections, rescue, hazmat, counterterrorism, natural disasters, building collapses—we’re there for all of it. We plan for and are prepared for the worst-case scenarios and must ensure that our resources, training, and procedures are in place to deal with whatever comes our way.
John M. Esposito Chief of Department
We continue to bring Fire and EMS closer together. Accomplishing this requires critical resources, especially for EMS. With an unprecedented rise in call volume, we are taking steps to improve response times, attract candidates to our ranks, and make sure that New Yorkers know which medical emergencies truly require a call to 911. By investing in new technology such as artificial intelligence, we can enhance situational awareness, lower response times, and make our department more efficient. To adapt to challenges like climate change, urban fire departments like the FDNY must rethink how they fight fires in parks and green spaces and those that involve new and emerging technologies. We are constantly reviewing what resources we need, new strategies to deploy, and most importantly, what training and equipment our firefighters require. Finally, we know that the FDNY’s strength and greatest resource is its members, both uniformed and civilian. In this plan, we reaffirm our commitment to investing in their safety, growth, and professional development.
In 2025, the FDNY is strong and steadfast in its mission of saving life and property. We are better trained and more prepared than ever. Since 1865, the Fire Department of the City of New York has upheld a standard of greatness, courage, and bravery that has transcended time. Those values still hold true today, thanks to our ability to adapt to our city’s ever-changing needs. The lifelong love and dedication our members have for this job fuels our ability to get this done. The 2025 Strategic Plan builds upon the FDNY’s storied history. These continuous improvements will prepare us for good days and bad, challenges seen and unseen, and help guide us through whatever tomorrow brings.
Robert S. Tucker FDNY Commissioner
Mark Guerra First Deputy Commissioner
looking to identify a system to manage and track assets in two key areas: vehicles and facilities. By tracking vehicles in real time, the agency will have a live understanding of vehicles in service, vehicles out of service, and fleet outages. Access to this information allows the department to connect those outages to operational impacts and inform fleet movement and reallocation across the city. By integrating Fire and EMS facilities, the agency will improve efficiency and operational capacity and create cross-training opportunities. This will consist of streamlining existing facility footprints where possible and mapping out the collocation of future developments.
Recalibrate the FDNY Fleet
The FDNY’s fleet includes fire apparatus, ambulances, supervisory emergency response vehicles, specialized and support vehicles (such as high-axle vehicles), mobile emergency response vehicles (MERVs), pickup trucks, trailers, aerial ladders, cargo vans, and more. An increase in the volume of calls, wear and tear on vehicles, frequent repairs, and maintenance requires the department to frequently service its fleet to meet response needs. The FDNY will conduct a comprehensive review of its current fleet to determine future needs. The department will also research and explore the utility of electric and hybrid vehicles for future use.
Procure a Policy Management System
To better manage policies and procedures that impact several units within the department, the FDNY will procure a Policy Management System. This new system will be utilized across all units—including Legal, EMS, Fire, the Bureau of Fire Investigation, the Bureau of Fire Prevention, and Support Services—to develop and manage policies and procedures. The system will help with policy creation, workflows, version updates, attestations, regular reviews, and publication.
Upgrade Radio Infrastructure and Interoperability
The department will upgrade its radio infrastructure and interoperability across the city. Upgrades will
include the implementation of next-generation high-rise communications infrastructure for Fire and EMS: ARCS 2.0. Upgrading the current high-rise radio system required by code with new ARCS 2.0 technology will expand coverage to EMS and reduce legacy costs for private buildings seeking compliance. Additionally, replacing FDNY Fire and EMS legacy portable radios with a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)-compliant, next-generation communications platform will enhance coordination and collaboration department wide. Finally, FDNY will replace apparatus mobile data terminals (MDTs) to comply with next-gen and IT requirements, which will improve connectivity and provide redundancies.
Pilot the Use of E-Vehicles for Non-Transport Paramedic Units
The FDNY is piloting a program to deploy electric vehicles as Paramedic Response Units (PRUs) and seeks to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure to support first responder operations.
Transition to the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS)
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), in partnership with the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), has developed and launched a new interoperable fire information and innovative analytics platform known as NERIS. This is a national effort to improve fire reporting, data, and informational awareness of national fire analytics, policies, and procedures across the country. The FDNY has supported this effort from its inception, served as a beta tester throughout the development of NERIS, and will transition to NERIS by the beginning of 2026.
Expand the Command Tactical Unit (CTU) Under the Supervision of FDNY Robotics
AI, robotics, and real-time audio/visual information have a proven track record to optimize emergency response, incident command, and member safety. Equipped with thermal imaging and hazardous material sensors, drones provide essential data on the location and severity of the fire and structural integrity, and the identification of hazardous substances or conditions. Robotics generally has the potential to undertake tasks deemed too hazardous
CHAPTER 2 STRATEGIES TO REDUCE MEDICAL RESPONSE TIMES
The FDNY must constantly adapt to meet the evergrowing and changing needs of New York City. The FDNY will work to manage the demand of EMS while reducing response times. The department will surge capacity to meet the increased volume of calls for service as well as find innovative solutions to help decrease demand through alternative methods that are comparable to, if not better than, traditional 911 call pathways.
GOAL:
Leverage Technology and Innovation to Improve Call Taking and Dispatch Operations
Design and Build a New EMS Computer-Aided Dispatch System (EMS CAD) to Unify FDNY CAD
Within the next three years, the department will unveil a new CAD system for EMS that will merge with its existing Fire CAD system. The FDNY will develop new, upgraded EMS CAD requirements to optimize assignment selection and the allocation of resources to most effectively provide care to 911 callers. Improving call typing and assignment selection may result in the capability to redirect eligible calls to alternative destinations and incorporate solutions alternative to and/or more appropriate than 911.
Industrial Engineering
The FDNY will explore creating a new Industrial Engineering Unit, responsible for designing system improvements to better our service levels. The unit will leverage Town and Gown, a consortium of local universities and engineering professors, in FY2026 to enhance several services and initiatives. Among them are creating a scheduling tool for EMS call takers, increasing accuracy in the deployment of EMS and Fire units to better match supply with demand, and optimizing building inspections.
Leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Improve Call Taking and Dispatch
The FDNY is exploring ways to harness AI to improve call taking and dispatch capabilities by leveraging FDNY’s CAD systems and call taking software data to reintegrate innovations into the call taking and dispatch process. For example, call takers’ medical triage of potential patients would be enhanced by AI to improve the accuracy of call types. Additionally, the department could streamline dispatch by incorporating predictive algorithms for incidents and targeting resource allocation.
Develop a Public-Facing 911 Application
The department seeks to develop a public-facing 911 application that could be downloaded to a personal smartphone. The application would be designed with three main objectives: 1) to provide the potential patient with early intervention instructions and alternative transport or care options, 2) to provide useful information about a patient’s EMS transport directly to the rider after calling 911 and being treated or transported by an ambulance, and 3) to educate the user on alternatives to 911 for future use, such as telemedicine, treat-in-place, alternative destinations, and alternative transport.
GOAL:
Optimize Resources to Increase Capacity
Expand the Paramedic Response Unit (PRU) Pilot Program Citywide
EMS assigns two types of ambulances: basic life support (BLS) staffed by EMTs and advanced life support (ALS) staffed by paramedics. The PRU pilot program, first launched with 13 units in upper Manhattan and the Bronx, places paramedics in non-
CHAPTER 3
ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY FOR NEW YORKERS AND VISITORS
To continue FDNY’s legacy of keeping New York City residents and visitors safe, the department is creating new fire and life safety campaigns to educate and engage the public and highlight fire safety tips, such as “Close the Door” and “Smoke Alarms Save Lives.” Historically, the department has relied on the FDNY Foundation to get this done. The FDNY must formally absorb this programming into its budget to ensure long-term sustainability. Additional information and processes on topics like lithium-ion batteries and fire-safe technology are being developed and incorporated into the department’s materials and regulatory processes. The department will continue to expand its lifesaving educational messaging throughout the five boroughs.
GOAL:
Develop High-Impact Strategies to Protect New Yorkers from Fire Risk
Launch FDNY Community Risk Assessments
The FDNY created 59 community board-specific, data-driven evaluations on fire prevention needs to more effectively engage with communities about trends in their neighborhoods to eliminate residential fire deaths in New York City as a whole. The assessments highlight the leading causes of residential fires, where residential fires have been most likely to occur, and the vulnerability of residents to fire within that community board. These evaluations allow the FDNY’s Community Affairs Unit (CAU) to work directly with each community board to develop a fire safety education and smoke alarm distribution strategy tailored to each community’s unique needs. The FDNY believes this will have a meaningful impact
over time, reducing the frequency and severity of fires in New York City overall.
Expand Fire Safety Education Smoke Alarm Program
Working jointly with the FDNY Foundation, the American Red Cross, and other government stakeholders, the department seeks to expand its Smoke Alarm Installation Program. Having properly installed smoke alarms and changing the batteries regularly offers a critical early warning system for a potentially deadly fire. This is one of the most direct and impactful ways that the city can save lives.
GOAL:
Streamline Processes for Efficiency
Conduct a Landscape Review of the Bureau of Fire Prevention’s (BFP) Business Processes
The FDNY’s Bureau of Fire Prevention is on the front lines of keeping New Yorkers safe before fires even start. Their inspectors ensure strict safety codes are met by reviewing fire alarms, suppression systems, building plans and all other equipment that either poses a fire hazard or is required by the City Administrative Code. From towering skyscrapers to cutting-edge energy systems, their all-hands-on-deck approach ensures New York City’s residents, visitors, and built environment are prepared for all emergencies. They work hand in hand with Fire Operations and Fire Safety Education to prepare both people and buildings for emergencies. BFP’s daily mission is to prevent fires, protect lives, and support safer firefighting across New York City. In furtherance of this mission, BFP will conduct a landscape review of the business processes
Establish New Technology Review and Installation Processes for Electric Micromobility
Lithium-Ion Battery Cabinets
The FDNY is establishing an equipment review process specifically for electric micromobility (e-micromobility) battery cabinets, including formalizing the necessary reviews for safety, compliance, and installation procedures. As e-micromobility devices like e-scooters and e-bikes become more prevalent, the FDNY is addressing the unique risks associated with their batteries, such as fire hazards and improper storage and charging. This is particularly important in such a dense urban environment with an aging housing stock. This new regulatory landscape requires careful oversight. By creating a structured review and installation process alongside other city agency partners, the FDNY is leading the country in standing up regulatory processes for safety and innovation in this emerging field.
Explore the Creation of a Unit Focused on Emerging Technologies and Alternative Energy
The FDNY seeks to establish a unit focused on emerging technology and alternative energy to stay ahead of rapidly evolving trends that impact both firefighting and public safety. As technology advances, new tools, equipment, and energy solutions—such as electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and smart firefighting technologies—are reshaping how the department operates. A specialized unit would ensure the FDNY can effectively set policy to safely review and approve these technologies, improve operational efficiency, enhance firefighter safety, and adapt to the growing demand for sustainability and environmental responsibility. This proactive approach would help the FDNY remain at the forefront of modern emergency response while supporting the city’s goals for a greener, more resilient future.
Enhance Access and Frequency of Fire and EMS Gear Decontamination
The FDNY remains committed to cancer awareness to mitigate personal risk to members’ health. Clean personal protective equipment (PPE) is crucial to reducing potentially toxic particulate exposure. As the department continues to evaluate areas to improve decontamination standards, the FDNY will increase the access and frequency with which Fire and EMS gear is decontaminated to keep members as safe as possible. An on-scene PPE decontamination pilot program for fire and contamination incidents will launch in 2025.
Enhance On-Scene Firefighter Locator Technology
The FDNY continues to explore the development of a personnel tracking system for firefighters operating inside of high-rise buildings. Currently, a firefighter’s location is tracked and known, but their elevation within a building is unknown. The ability to track a firefighter’s elevation within one meter would allow the incident commander to better command and safeguard members. The FDNY will continue exploring the potential of utilizing smart, wearable technology that monitors the location of personnel in real time to increase members’ safety.
Expand the Counseling Services Unit (CSU)
The FDNY CSU is available to members with satellite locations across the city. CSU plays a critical role in supporting the mental health and well-being of FDNY personnel through counseling, peer support groups, wellness programs, workshops, and seminars on how to deal with situational or job-related stress. The department will continue to invest in the mental health of its members by implementing a comprehensive wellness program that addresses mental well-being, physical fitness, and behavioral health.
Explore an External Mental Health Service Pilot Program
The FDNY will explore offering a new mental health pilot program that would provide offsite emergency counseling and mental health evaluations to any member in need. This would provide members with an opportunity to confidentially improve their mental health outside of the workplace.
Organizational Chart FDNY ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
