New York City fire officials say the years since the Sept. 11 terrorist attack have been the busiest in history at the nation's largest fire department.
On average, the department has responded to more than 420,000 emergency calls every year since 2002. Last year, it responded to 488,017 calls, the third highest ever. The record was 507,017 in 2010.
Steve Cassidy, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, said Tuesday the crews are doing more with less. He says it's a testament to the hard work of the firefighters who take on more responsibility as numbers dwindle and demand skyrockets. There are about 11,500 firefighters in New York City.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
