FDNY aiming to increase its diversity with latest recruitment campaign

The city’s fire department started its latest recruitment campaign on Tuesday. Their slogan? “All Heroes Welcome.”

Dan Serafin and Adolfo Carrion

May 14, 2024, 9:21 PM

Updated 210 days ago

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A major opportunity is coming in June to those who are looking to join the ranks of the FDNY.
The city’s fire department started their latest recruitment campaign on Tuesday. Their slogan? “All Heroes Welcome.”
In November 2022, a legislative package was passed by the City Council and signed by Mayor Eric Adams to push the FDNY to improve its diversity. Statistics from the agency show that 28% of firefighters are minorities, and just 1.6% of firefighters are female.
Typically every four to five years, the department opens their firefighter exam to interested New Yorkers – but it’s now been seven years since that exam was offered. FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanaugh says that delay was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Current firefighters will be at career fairs, colleges and churches to share with people the benefits of joining the FDNY.
“You are putting your mind and your body into an incredibly dangerous situation with only seconds or minutes to make decisions to save someone's life, that's a special calling, and you see that in the type of people that attracts,” said Kavanaugh.
You must be between the ages of 17 ½ and 29 years old. The next period to file for the exam opens on June 24.