Fire Department Spending by City 2026

Fire departments are the second-largest public safety expense in most city budgets, typically consuming 10–15% of general fund spending. But per-capita fire spending ranges from under $50 in some suburban cities to over $500 in dense, older urban areas. This analysis ranks 800+ cities by fire protection spending using Census Bureau data.

Top 25 Cities by Fire Spending Per Capita

Cities at the top of fire spending tend to have career (non-volunteer) departments, combined fire-EMS operations, older building stock requiring more fire response capacity, and higher labor costs.

Fire Spending in America's Largest Cities

Large cities operate some of the biggest fire departments in the world. The FDNY alone has over 10,000 uniformed firefighters. Here is how the largest cities compare on total fire budget and per-capita spending.

Cities With the Lowest Fire Spending

Cities spending the least on fire protection often rely on volunteer or combination departments, contract with county fire agencies, or serve low-density suburban areas with newer construction and lower fire risk.

Police vs. Fire: How Cities Split Public Safety Budgets

On average, U.S. cities spend roughly twice as much on police as on fire protection. But the ratio varies — some cities spend nearly equal amounts, while others allocate 3 to 4 times more to police. The balance depends on crime rates, EMS service models, and whether the city operates its own ambulance service through the fire department.

See the police-to-fire spending ratio rankings for a full comparison, or read the companion piece on police spending by city.

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