The issue of “fire hydrants being blocked by vehicles” in New York City has significantly worsened in 2025. According to analysis of 311 complaints data from the city government, there were 165,466 complaints of “blocked fire hydrants” received citywide in 2025, a 23.4% increase from around 134,000 complaints in 2024. Over the past decade, complaints have been steadily increasing almost every year, illustrating that illegal parking obstructing rescue efforts has become a normal occurrence.
Fire officials pointed out that blocking fire hydrants not only contributes to traffic chaos but can also directly delay firefighting and rescue operations. A report mentioned that in a fire incident in the Bronx in January 2026, firefighters were affected due to nearby fire hydrants being blocked by illegally parked vehicles. Similar situations have occurred at deadly fire scenes in the past, prompting the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) to enhance enforcement measures in recent years.
To curb this trend, in addition to issuing regular parking tickets, the FDNY has begun issuing criminal summonses for acts of blocking that result in “serious consequences or significant circumstances”. Data shows that in 2025, a total of 13 criminal summonses were issued, with fines totaling $49,500, ranging from $2,500 to $4,000 per ticket. However, the hefty penalties have yet to immediately put a stop to the issue: in the first two weeks of 2026, city records still documented over 6,200 instances of hydrants being blocked.
In response, Joann Ariola, the Council Member and Chair of the Fire and Emergency Management Committee of the city council in the Southwest Queens district, bluntly stated that the situation will only worsen. She believes that inadequate enforcement and parking pressure are driving the increase in illegal parking. Some drivers have criticized street renovations such as “increasing daylighting” and bike lanes, complaining about “nowhere to park”. However, the city’s Department of Transportation countered, stating that there are still approximately 3 million curbside parking spaces in outer boroughs and emphasizing that there is “no excuse” for blocking fire hydrants.
Ariola is currently drafting new legislation to equip firefighters with tools such as scanners to streamline paperwork processes, allowing for quicker ticketing on the frontline. She also plans to push forward previously unpassed proposals, including more visible fire hydrant markings and enhanced penalties, in hopes of deterring people from treating fines as just a “cost of living”.
She urges residents to report immediately to 311 upon seeing blocked fire hydrants and calls on the city council and city government to expedite legislative and enforcement actions. “This is not a matter of convenience in parking,” she said, “but rather a question of whether or not lives can be saved in a timely manner.”