Mayor Adams and FDNY Commissioner Tucker Declare 2025 "Fire Prevention Year" in New York City in Honor of 100th Anniversary of National Fire Prevention Week

March 13, 2025

Watch the video here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsFwnZn44Jo

FDNY to Surge Fire and Life Safety Educational Resources to 100 Most Fire-Prone Blocks in New York City to Keep Residents Safe

FDNY Releases Data-Driven Community Risk Assessments for Each Community Board in NYC

New York – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) Commissioner Robert S. Tucker today declared 2025 "Fire Prevention Year" in New York City to mark the 100th anniversary of National Fire Prevention Week. The announcement comes on the heels of the department's response to several high-profile multiple-alarm fires in the city during the first two months of 2025.

During Fire Prevention Year, the FDNY will host thousands of public education events across the five boroughs and provide targeted fire prevention and life safety educational resources to 100 blocks identified by the department as having the highest risk of fires. Additionally, Commissioner Tucker today announced the release of Community Risk Assessments for all 59 community boards in the city, which provide a detailed analysis of each neighborhood's emergency preparedness and vulnerability to fire incidents.

"When New Yorkers face danger, this administration takes decisive action," said Mayor Adams. "We have relentlessly worked to get unsafe e-bikes, e-scooters, and lithium-ion batteries off our streets — and worked with communities to educate them on heater safety and the importance of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. The FDNY will continue to host thousands of public education events across the five boroughs, providing targeted fire prevention and life safety resources to 100 blocks with the highest risk of fires. We are urging New Yorkers to protect themselves through education."

"For 100 years, National Fire Prevention Week has been a vital opportunity to raise awareness about fire safety and prevention. As we commemorate this milestone, we are proud to dedicate 2025 as 'Fire Prevention Year' in New York City," said FDNY Commissioner Tucker. "The FDNY is committed to empowering our communities with the knowledge and tools to prevent fires and protect lives. Through over a thousand public education events, our dedicated teams will continue to engage with New Yorkers across all five boroughs. By focusing on the 100 most fire-prone blocks and providing tailored Community Risk Assessments, we are strengthening our efforts to keep every neighborhood safer. Together, we can ensure that fire prevention remains a priority every day of the year."

President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance in 1925, making it the longest-running public health observance in the country. Since its inception, the FDNY has organized public education campaigns throughout National Fire Prevention Week, which this year will be held from October 5 to October 11.

To identify the 100 most fire-prone blocks in New York City, Commissioner Tucker directed the FDNY's data team to analyze historical data on multiple-alarm fires over a five-year period, as well as types and ages of buildings, recent fire safety education outreach, and population density. The department will provide personalized fire safety education to residents on these blocks, including door-to-door outreach, community events, awareness campaigns in partnership with local elected officials, and participation in community board meetings. Outreach will emphasize:

• The importance of installing and maintaining smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Developing fire escape plans specific to fireproof or non-fireproof buildings.
• Taking necessary precautions to stay safe in the event of a fire.

The Community Risk Assessments released today also build on the expanded effort by FDNY to use data analysis to shape fire prevention strategies. Developed by the FDNY's Geographic Information Systems Unit, the assessments highlight leading causes of residential fires, types of buildings most affected, and vulnerability indicators specific to each community. Throughout 2025, the FDNY will use these assessments to work collaboratively with residents on customized fire risk reduction strategies.

FDNY's ongoing fire and life safety education efforts have already made a significant impact on protecting New Yorkers' lives and property. In 2024, fire deaths were down 25 percent compared to 2023. More specifically, fires caused by lithium-ion battery explosions killed six people in 2024 compared to 18 deaths in 2023, a 67 percent decrease. The department's Fire Safety Education Unit conducted 3,160 fire and life safety presentations at community groups, schools, businesses, and faith-based institutions last year, reaching an estimated 508,975 New Yorkers — an increase of 37 percent from 2023. Additionally, the Mobile Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Training Unit trained 104,277 people, a 55 percent increase from 2023, with high school students comprising 28 percent of trainees. These trainings are critically important, as early CPR and defibrillator use have been shown to drastically improve survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest victims.

"I applaud Commissioner Tucker's dedication to fire prevention and his proactive approach to making sure the residents of New York City and the members of the Fire Department can be safer," said New York City Councilmember Joann Ariola. "The community risk assessment will be an extremely useful tool for the Department to see where more resources are needed."