A handful of FDNY engine companies will have all seats filled when they roll out the door as the city continues to increase staffing.
This will add the "fifth man," meaning the apparatus will have four firefighters, one driver and an officer.
“Increasing the staffing on fire engines will decrease the amount of time to stretch a hose line and put water on the fire which will save lives,” United Firefighters Association President James Slevin told the Daily News. “It’s going to mean less burn injuries for firefighters and make the public safer as well.”
The change will increase staffing at Engine 5 in Manhattan, Engine 50 in The Bronx, Engine 156 in Staten Island, Engine 236 in Brooklyn and Engine 308 in Queens.
In 2011, then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg reduced staffing on 60 engine companies by one firefighter.
In the 2015 contract, Mayor Bill de Blasio agreed to increase staffing for 20 engine companies over a couple of years.
The city added a "fifth man" to five engine companies a year ago.
“This contract continues to be beneficial to all parties, especially those we serve, with additional firefighters now available to respond to fires and medical emergencies in all five boroughs,” FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro told the newspaper.
