The FDNY says a record-breaking number of minorities took the latest firefighter exam.
According to Commissioner Salvatore Cassano, more than 42,000 people took the exam and more than 19,000 of them were minorities, a 130-percent increase over the last test in 2007.
Nearly 2,000 women also turned out, which is more than the combined total who took the previous three exams.
The FDNY says it's been working to improve diversity. It spent $1 million on special ads and recruitment events to spread the word.