Municipal fire department · New York · United States

Fire Department of the City of New York

The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) is the largest municipal fire service in the United States and one of the largest in the world, serving the five boroughs of New York City with roughly 17,000 uniformed personnel across fire suppression, emergency medical services, and special operations. The department has been in continuous service since 1865 and operates from over 250 firehouses citywide. Recruitment to the FDNY firefighter role runs through the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) civil service exam process. Candidates must pass a written civil service examination, the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) administered nationally to firefighter applicants, a medical examination, a psychological screening, and a thorough background investigation before being invited to attend the Fire Academy on Randall's Island. The academy course covers approximately 18 weeks of physical conditioning, technical drills, EMS certification, and structural firefighting tactics. Exam announcements appear on the official "Join FDNY" portal — confirm eligibility and application windows there before relying on third-party information. Bluewatch surfaces the department for discovery and links to the official recruitment portal; we do not handle applications.