2008 was a record year for the FDNY posting their best emergency response time in 14 years and seeing a drop in fire-related deaths.

Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta accredited this improvement to new dispatching methods. In years past, dispatchers would collect all necessary information before sending out emergency vehicles. In 2008, vehicles were sent immediately and the info was collected while already mobilized.

The leading causes for fire-related deaths in 2008 were smoking, electrical fires and children playing with matches or an open-flame.