FDNY Push For Increased Staffing, Restore 5th Firefighter To More Than 80 Engines

NEW YORK CITY — City Council members, including speaker Julie Menin are pushing for increased funding for the FDNY that would restore a fifth firefighter to 86 engine companies.

The coalition is supporting a $91.7-million increase in the city budget that would go toward increase FDNY staffing.

Advocates for the increased staffing have said that adding a fifth firefighter would improve response efforts and help save lives.

The fifth firefighter position was eliminated back in 2011 under then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

At a press conference on Monday, Menin said only 20 of the city’s nearly 200 fire companies are fully staffed.

"All it takes is one extra person to provide extra support to crews on the ground,” Menin said. “This is just common sense. How can we say no to this?”

Bronx Council member Kevin Riley said that the borough has experienced some of the city’s most heartbreaking tragedies including the Twin Parks fire where 17 people were killed.

A spokesperson for Mamdani said the administration plans to continue conversations with the council regarding a fifth firefighter pilot proposal.