FDNY: Civilian Fire-Related Deaths Down 5% in 2020

Fire fatalities in New York City dropped by 5 percent in 2020, and it marked another consecutive year that fire-related deaths didn't reach triple digits, according to the FDNY.

Last year, the city had 63 civilian fire deaths, down from 66 fire-related deaths in 2019, the department announced this week. It's the 15th consecutive year the city has had fewer than 100 fire fatalities, which is an unprecedented period in the department's history.

Over the past decade, the FDNY saw the fewest fire fatalities in 2016 with 48 deaths. During that same 10-year span, the city totaled its most civilian fire-related deaths in 2018 with 88. 

According to the department's fire marshals, the leading causes of last year's fire fatalities were:

• electrical (28)
• smoking (12)
• incendiary (6)
• cooking (4)

“2020 was a year unlike any other—but New Yorkers know that no matter what’s thrown at them, New York’s Bravest will answer the call and keep them safe,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement. “We should all be proud of this achievement, and I’ll stand with FDNY to help make even more strides on fire safety in 2021.”

Along with a decrease in civilian fire-related deaths, the FDNY saw an 8 percent decline in medical emergencies from 2019. Last year, the department's EMS workers responded to 1,412,690 medical calls, down from 1,531,870 in 2019, which had been the most medical emergencies for the department in a single year.

But within last year's overall decrease, the FDNY responded to the most medical emergencies on a daily basis in the city's history at the height of the pandemic in March and April. Call volume reached its highest point March 30 with 6,527 medical emergencies.

"Our EMTs and Paramedics faced the busiest period in EMS history during the height of the pandemic, responding day and night to thousands upon thousands of calls for help, with the utmost professionalism and care for their patients," Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro said in a statement. "Our Firefighters raced into burning buildings as they have for 155 years and continued to reduce the number of lives lost to fire. The life-saving efforts of all our members during this horrific year—especially as so many of our members themselves battled COVID-19—are truly remarkable.”