The New York City Council is pushing Mayor Zohran Mamdani to add more firefighters to dozens of FDNY engine companies, arguing the move could help crews respond faster to dangerous fires.
Council lawmakers want the administration to allocate an additional $91.7 million in the city budget to restore a fifth firefighter to 86 engine companies in some of the city’s busiest and highest-risk areas.
The proposal is expected to be part of budget negotiations between the City Council and the Mamdani administration as both sides work toward a final fiscal 2027 spending plan by the end of June.
Council Speaker Julie Menin said adding a fifth firefighter to engine companies would reduce the time needed to put out fires and protect both civilians and firefighters.
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Supporters argue that staffing is especially important as the FDNY faces a growing number of fast-moving fires linked to lithium-ion batteries, which have become a major safety concern in New York City.
Bronx Councilman Kevin Riley, who is helping lead the push, said extra staffing would allow fire crews to move faster and respond more effectively, particularly during intense battery-related fires.
Currently, only 20 of the city’s nearly 200 FDNY engine companies have a fifth firefighter assigned.
Mamdani’s $124.7 billion executive budget did not include the requested funding for the additional staffing.
The fifth firefighter position was cut in 2011 under former Mayor Michael Bloomberg as part of budget reductions. Since then, lawmakers and firefighter advocates have repeatedly pushed to restore the staffing levels.
Supporters say the additional firefighter can make a major difference at fire scenes, helping engine companies stretch hoses, force entry, search areas and begin fire suppression more quickly.
Previous efforts to restore the fifth firefighter have drawn support from lawmakers in both parties. In 2019, Councilwoman Joann Ariola and then-Councilman Justin Brannan argued that staffing every engine company with a fifth firefighter would improve fire response and reduce injuries, deaths and long-term costs.
The renewed push comes as New York continues to deal with public safety challenges tied to dense housing, aging buildings and fires caused by e-bike and scooter batteries.
The proposal could become an early test of Mamdani’s budget priorities as he balances progressive spending goals, public safety demands and pressure from city agencies seeking more resources.
Why It Matters
FDNY staffing affects how quickly firefighters can respond to emergencies and control fires before they spread. Supporters say adding a fifth firefighter could save lives, especially as lithium-ion battery fires create faster and more dangerous conditions.
What Comes Next
The City Council and Mamdani administration will negotiate the budget over the coming weeks. If lawmakers secure the funding, 86 more FDNY engine companies could receive a fifth firefighter.
NYC Council pushes Mamdani to add ‘fifth man’ to FDNY trucks- restoring Bloomberg-era cut https://t.co/8OHEDwkQT5 pic.twitter.com/GpyKi8Xthx
— New York Post (@nypost) May 26, 2026
