Fire Deaths in New York City at All-Time Lows

Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano speaking at City Hall about fire-related fatalities. He's joined by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.

Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano joined Mayor Michael Bloomberg at City Hall on Dec. 28 to announce that there were 64 fire-related deaths in 2011, the second lowest total in recorded history.

"The year 2011 has been, by far, the safest year in the city’s history," Mayor Bloomberg said. "And it closes the safest decade in our city’s history."

The lowest recorded total was in 2010, when 62 people died in fires.

"Even one fire death is too many, my goal is to have zero each year," Commissioner Cassano said. "But these numbers show our hard work is paying off."

New York City fire death statistics.

Commissioner Cassano added that fire response times also were at near record lows for 2011, attributing it to new technology and dispatch changes. EMS response times to life-threatening calls were at a record lows this year.

Since 2002, there have been an average of 88 civilian deaths per year, which marked the safest 10-year period since record keeping began in 1916, and a 37 percent improvement over the previous 10-year period.

The number of structural fires dropped by six percent this year, and 11 percent lower than the last 10-year period. Serious fires also declined three percent in 2011, 15 percent less than last decade.

Commissioner Cassano attributes this decline to aggressive fire prevention and education efforts, including inspection programs and more than 6,000 fire safety presentations throughout New York City every year.