Due to the impact of the pandemic, the recruitment of firefighters in the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) has been suspended for 6 years. The city’s fire department reopened applications for recruitment in late June this year. With Asians accounting for only 2% of the FDNY workforce, Benjamin Chou, chairman of the Phoenix Society, urged the Asian community to seize the opportunity to apply and join the ranks of firefighters.
Benjamin Chou, chairman of the Asian Phoenix Society within the city’s fire department, stated in an interview with The Epoch Times on June 7, “I have been with the city’s fire department for 10 years. Ten years ago, Asian firefighters only accounted for 1%, and after a decade, it’s still only 2%.”
Chou analyzed the reasons for the lack of Asian firefighters in New York City, pointing to two main factors. Firstly, he mentioned the influence of Asian family values where parents generally aspire for their children to become doctors or lawyers. Secondly, the FDNY typically holds recruitment exams only once every 4 to 5 years, leading to a lack of awareness among the Asian community regarding the exam schedule.
“We hope that more attention from the Asian community can be directed towards the rare opportunities for firefighter recruitment and join the big family of the New York City Fire Department, contributing to serving the community with dedication!” Chou emphasized.
The official website of the city’s fire department announced that applications for firefighter recruitment will open on June 24 this year. However, Chou reminds prospective applicants that they need to complete the “application” step online first to receive further information on the firefighter exam date and related requirements.
The specific date for the firefighter exam by the city’s fire department is still pending. After passing the written test, candidates will be placed on a waiting list and await notification from the fire department for the physical fitness test.
For those looking to join the ranks of firefighters in the city, applicants must be at least 17.5 years old and not have reached their 29th birthday by the application date of June 24 for the firefighter exam.
There are two exceptions to these age requirements: individuals listed on the Special Military firefighter exam list can apply if they are under 36 years old at the start of the application date. Additionally, those currently in active service can subtract their service time from their actual age. According to Article 243 of the New York Military Law, the maximum deduction period is 7 years.
For more information on applying and preparing for the firefighter recruitment exam by the New York City Fire Department, please visit: [https://www.joinfdny.com/](https://www.joinfdny.com/). Once on the official website, click on the “Career Paths” option on the left menu, and select “Firefighter.”