Firehouses and EMS stations across New York City are throwing their doors open to the public this weekend, inviting neighbors to meet the crews who respond when things go wrong. The FDNY's annual citywide Open House runs Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17-18, with stations welcoming visitors in two blocks of time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
The 2026 event is hosted by the FDNY with support from the FDNY Foundation. Visitors are invited to meet firefighters, EMTs and paramedics face to face, take a look at the trucks and tools they use on calls, and watch live demonstrations, according to the foundation. The open houses also double as a chance to pick up fire and life safety tips and learn about career paths within the department.
On social media, the official FDNY
account promoted the weekend plans, telling followers to stop by and meet their local first responders. The FDNY, based in New York, also used the post to invite followers to check out apparatus and tools up close and learn firsthand about the work firefighters and EMS crews do to keep the city safe.
Check Before You Go — Schedules Vary by Station
Not every station necessarily follows the same window, so the foundation is directing visitors to look up their local firehouse or EMS station and confirm the exact date and time before heading over. Event listings site mommypoppins.com echoes that caution, noting that activity dates and times are subject to change and urging visitors to click through to the official event page to verify details before showing up.
This isn't a new tradition. Last year's citywide Open House, held Oct. 18-19, drew participation from more than 200 FDNY firehouses and EMS stations across the five boroughs, per the FDNY Foundation. That 2025 weekend offered the same mix of tours, live demonstrations, safety tips and career information that visitors can expect this time around, and the city confirmed the department welcomed the public into stations that weekend as well.
For anyone who wants to use the weekend as a reminder in general, the FDNY account notes that 911 remains the number for emergencies, while 311 is the line for non-emergency matters. With two more sessions on tap through Sunday afternoon, there's still time to find a participating station nearby and stop in.
