Bronx sees increase in 911 calls amid shrinking EMT, ambulance fleets

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The union representing the city’s Emergency Medical Services personnel is sounding the alarm over an increased volume of 911 calls alongside shrinking ambulance fleets and widespread understaffing. 

Oren Barzilay, who has served as president of FDNY Local 2507 for the past seven years, told the Bronx Times that he grew up in Forest Hills with an ambulance staging area just outside his building, so emergency work always felt within reach. In high school, he took an EMS course and joined the FDNY EMS in 1995.

But even after all those years, his job now feels more disheartening than ever.

“Conditions are horrible, the stress is through the roof,” he said.

One major problem, according to Barzilay, is the low pay.

“We have a workforce that is disrespected by our city, to a point where our wages are poverty wages,” he said.

According to Barzilay, the starting salary for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) is $18 per hour, about $39,000 per year. 

In contrast, the NYPD starting salary is $58,580 and more than doubles to $121,589 after only 5 ½ years. FDNY starting salary is $43,904 and can increase to over $100,000 after five years when factoring in overtime and holiday pay. 

But beyond salary, another problem is that more and more calls for serious emergencies are coming in — with fewer and fewer crews and ambulances available to respond. 

Over the past two years, the Bronx saw a 15.3% increase in 911 calls — the second highest increase among the five boroughs. A total of 146,179 life-threatening emergencies were reported in the Bronx in 2023, compared to 126,826 in 2021.

But all boroughs saw an increase in 911 calls: Brooklyn saw a 15.7% increase and there were increases of 12.7% in Manhattan, 10.7% in Queens and 8% in Staten Island. 

Despite these increases, Barzilay said, the city appears to be taking resources away  — especially in the Bronx — instead of allocating…