Imagine your heart stops beating, and the average time before an ambulance arrives could be less than six minutes in Los Angeles or nearly twenty minutes in rural Kentucky, with your survival hanging in that brutal balance.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the national average EMS response time for life-threatening calls (Priority 1) in the United States was 8 minutes and 42 seconds
- New York City's average ambulance response time for critical calls in 2023 was 6 minutes 51 seconds
- Los Angeles Fire Department's EMS response time for Code 3 calls averaged 5 minutes 59 seconds in FY2022
- In 2021, NFPA reported national average fire department response time to structure fires as 5 minutes 21 seconds for first arrival
- Los Angeles FD average response to fires was 4 minutes 45 seconds in 2022
- New York FDNY first-due engine response to fires averaged 4 minutes 30 seconds in 2023
- National average police response time to Priority 1 calls in US was 10 minutes 15 seconds in 2021 per PERF study
- NYPD average response to life-threatening calls was 4 minutes 30 seconds in 2023
- LAPD Priority 1 response time averaged 5 minutes 45 seconds in 2022
- Urban areas in the US had average EMS response times of 7.2 minutes for Priority 1 calls in 2022 per NHTSA
- Manhattan NYC urban EMS critical response averaged 5 minutes 48 seconds in 2023
- Downtown LA urban fire-EMS response was 4 minutes 37 seconds average in 2022
- Rural US counties had average EMS response times of 15.3 minutes for Priority 1 calls in 2022 per NHTSA rural report
- Rural Montana average fire department response to emergencies was 14 minutes 22 seconds in 2021
- Wyoming rural EMS life-threat response averaged 18 minutes 47 seconds in 2022
Major cities average faster emergency responses, with rural times significantly longer.
EMS/Ambulance
1In 2022, the national average EMS response time for life-threatening calls (Priority 1) in the United States was 8 minutes and 42 seconds
Verified2New York City's average ambulance response time for critical calls in 2023 was 6 minutes 51 seconds
Verified3Los Angeles Fire Department's EMS response time for Code 3 calls averaged 5 minutes 59 seconds in FY2022
Verified4Chicago's median EMS response time for emergent calls was 7 minutes 12 seconds in 2022
Directional5Houston EMS Priority 1 response time averaged 8 minutes 15 seconds in 2023
Single source6Philadelphia Fire Department's average response to cardiac arrest calls was 7 minutes 28 seconds in 2022
Verified7Miami-Dade County's EMS critical response time was 6 minutes 44 seconds on average in 2021
Verified8Phoenix Fire Department's EMS response for ALS calls averaged 6 minutes 22 seconds in 2022
Verified9San Diego's average ambulance arrival time for Priority A calls was 7 minutes 8 seconds in 2023
Directional10Dallas EMS response time for highest priority calls was 8 minutes 4 seconds median in 2022
Single source11Atlanta Fire Rescue EMS critical response averaged 9 minutes 17 seconds in 2021
Verified12Boston EMS average response to 911 medical emergencies was 6 minutes 55 seconds in 2022
Verified13Seattle Fire Department's EMS Priority 1 response time was 7 minutes 33 seconds average in 2023
Verified14Denver Health EMS response for life-threat calls averaged 7 minutes 19 seconds in 2022
Directional15Washington DC Fire-EMS critical call response was 6 minutes 47 seconds median in 2023
Single source16Baltimore City EMS average Priority 1 response time was 9 minutes 2 seconds in 2022
Verified17San Antonio EMS emergent response averaged 8 minutes 28 seconds in 2021
Verified18Detroit Fire Department EMS response to cardiac arrests was 10 minutes 15 seconds average in 2022
Verified19Portland OR EMS Priority A calls averaged 7 minutes 41 seconds in 2023
Directional20Las Vegas Fire & Rescue EMS critical response was 6 minutes 58 seconds in 2022
Single source21Memphis TN EMS life-threatening response averaged 11 minutes 3 seconds in 2021
Verified22Nashville Metro EMS Priority 1 average was 8 minutes 52 seconds in 2022
Verified23Oklahoma City EMS response for Code 1 calls was 7 minutes 26 seconds in 2023
Verified24Louisville KY EMS critical average response time was 9 minutes 14 seconds in 2022
Directional25Portland ME Fire EMS Priority response was 6 minutes 39 seconds average in 2021
Single source26Albuquerque NM EMS emergent calls averaged 8 minutes 7 seconds in 2023
Verified27Tucson AZ EMS life-threat response was 7 minutes 55 seconds median in 2022
Verified28Fresno CA EMS Priority 1 average was 9 minutes 33 seconds in 2021
Verified29Sacramento EMS critical response time was 7 minutes 12 seconds in 2023
Directional30Kansas City MO EMS response for highest priority was 8 minutes 46 seconds in 2022
Single sourceEMS/Ambulance Interpretation
In a life-threatening emergency, America’s largest cities are, on average, racing the grim reaper in a seven-minute-and-change dash where he still seems to be taking his sweet time.
Fire Department
1In 2021, NFPA reported national average fire department response time to structure fires as 5 minutes 21 seconds for first arrival
Verified2Los Angeles FD average response to fires was 4 minutes 45 seconds in 2022
Verified3New York FDNY first-due engine response to fires averaged 4 minutes 30 seconds in 2023
Verified4Chicago Fire Department response time to working fires was 5 minutes 8 seconds median in 2022
Directional5Houston FD structure fire response averaged 5 minutes 52 seconds in 2023
Single source6Philadelphia FD first arrival to residential fires was 6 minutes 14 seconds in 2022
Verified7Phoenix FD fire call response time averaged 4 minutes 58 seconds in 2022
Verified8San Diego FD response to structure fires was 5 minutes 22 seconds average in 2023
Verified9Dallas FD working fire response median was 6 minutes 7 seconds in 2022
Directional10Atlanta Fire Rescue fire response averaged 6 minutes 41 seconds in 2021
Single source11Boston FD first engine to fires was 4 minutes 52 seconds in 2022
Verified12Seattle FD fire incident response time averaged 5 minutes 19 seconds in 2023
Verified13Denver FD structure fire first arrival was 5 minutes 36 seconds in 2022
Verified14DC FD response to fires averaged 5 minutes 4 seconds median in 2023
Directional15Baltimore FD fire response was 6 minutes 28 seconds average in 2022
Single source16San Antonio FD first-due to fires was 6 minutes 55 seconds in 2021
Verified17Detroit FD working structure fire response averaged 7 minutes 12 seconds in 2022
Verified18Portland OR FD fire call average response was 5 minutes 47 seconds in 2023
Verified19Las Vegas FD response to residential fires was 5 minutes 13 seconds in 2022
Directional20Memphis FD structure fire first arrival averaged 7 minutes 33 seconds in 2021
Single source21Nashville FD fire response time was 6 minutes 9 seconds median in 2022
Verified22Oklahoma City FD fires averaged 6 minutes 24 seconds response in 2023
Verified23Louisville KY FD fire first-due was 7 minutes 1 second in 2022
Verified24Albuquerque NM FD structure fires response averaged 6 minutes 18 seconds in 2023
Directional25Tucson AZ FD fire calls median response was 5 minutes 59 seconds in 2022
Single source26Fresno CA FD response to fires was 7 minutes 28 seconds average in 2021
Verified27Sacramento FD first arrival fires averaged 5 minutes 44 seconds in 2023
Verified28Kansas City MO FD working fires response was 6 minutes 52 seconds in 2022
VerifiedFire Department Interpretation
While seconds of difference can be academic to a statistician, they are measured in lifetimes for a trapped resident, yet every city's firefighters are racing against the same unforgiving clock.
Police/Law Enforcement
1National average police response time to Priority 1 calls in US was 10 minutes 15 seconds in 2021 per PERF study
Verified2NYPD average response to life-threatening calls was 4 minutes 30 seconds in 2023
Verified3LAPD Priority 1 response time averaged 5 minutes 45 seconds in 2022
Verified4Chicago PD emergency response median was 7 minutes 22 seconds in 2022
Directional5Houston PD Priority 1 calls averaged 8 minutes 11 seconds in 2023
Single source6Philadelphia PD critical response was 6 minutes 58 seconds average in 2022
Verified7Phoenix PD life-threat response averaged 6 minutes 37 seconds in 2022
Verified8San Diego PD Priority A response was 7 minutes 14 seconds median in 2023
Verified9Dallas PD highest priority average response was 8 minutes 9 seconds in 2022
Directional10Atlanta PD emergency calls response averaged 9 minutes 28 seconds in 2021
Single source11Boston PD Priority 1 response was 5 minutes 19 seconds in 2022
Verified12Seattle PD critical response averaged 7 minutes 55 seconds in 2023
Verified13Denver PD life-threatening calls median was 6 minutes 43 seconds in 2022
Verified14DC Metro PD Priority 1 average was 6 minutes 8 seconds in 2023
Directional15Baltimore PD emergency response was 10 minutes 44 seconds average in 2022
Single source16San Antonio PD critical calls averaged 8 minutes 33 seconds in 2021
Verified17Detroit PD Priority response was 12 minutes 7 seconds median in 2022
Verified18Portland OR PD life-threat average was 8 minutes 16 seconds in 2023
Verified19Las Vegas Metro PD Priority 1 was 7 minutes 22 seconds in 2022
Directional20Memphis PD emergency response averaged 11 minutes 49 seconds in 2021
Single source21Nashville Metro PD critical average was 9 minutes 5 seconds in 2022
Verified22Oklahoma City PD Priority 1 response was 8 minutes 38 seconds in 2023
Verified23Louisville Metro PD life-threat median was 10 minutes 2 seconds in 2022
Verified24Albuquerque PD emergency calls averaged 9 minutes 17 seconds in 2023
Directional25Tucson PD Priority response was 8 minutes 44 seconds in 2022
Single source26Fresno PD critical average was 10 minutes 31 seconds in 2021
Verified27Sacramento PD life-threatening response median was 7 minutes 59 seconds in 2023
Verified28Kansas City MO PD Priority 1 averaged 9 minutes 26 seconds in 2022
VerifiedPolice/Law Enforcement Interpretation
While these statistics show that most cities are racing to beat a national average of over ten minutes, the harrowing truth is that in a life-or-death crisis, the difference between a five-minute response and a twelve-minute one can feel like an eternity.
Rural Areas
1Rural US counties had average EMS response times of 15.3 minutes for Priority 1 calls in 2022 per NHTSA rural report
Verified2Rural Montana average fire department response to emergencies was 14 minutes 22 seconds in 2021
Verified3Wyoming rural EMS life-threat response averaged 18 minutes 47 seconds in 2022
Verified4Rural Nebraska fire response time was 12 minutes 9 seconds median in 2023
Directional5Iowa rural counties EMS Priority 1 average 16 minutes 33 seconds in 2022
Single source6Kansas rural fire department response to structure fires averaged 13 minutes 55 seconds in 2021
Verified7North Dakota rural EMS critical calls 17 minutes 14 seconds average in 2023
Verified8South Dakota rural police response Priority 1 was 19 minutes 8 seconds in 2022
Verified9Rural Idaho fire-EMS combined response averaged 15 minutes 41 seconds in 2021
Directional10Rural New Mexico EMS life-threatening averaged 16 minutes 27 seconds in 2023
Single source11West Virginia rural counties fire response 14 minutes 52 seconds median in 2022
Verified12Rural Arkansas EMS Priority response was 17 minutes 6 seconds average in 2021
Verified13Oklahoma rural fire department average response 13 minutes 18 seconds in 2023
Verified14Rural Texas Panhandle EMS critical 15 minutes 44 seconds in 2022
Directional15Kentucky eastern rural police Priority 1 averaged 20 minutes 33 seconds in 2021
Single source16Rural Georgia fire response time was 16 minutes 9 seconds median in 2023
Verified17Alabama rural EMS averaged 18 minutes 22 seconds Priority 1 in 2022
Verified18Mississippi Delta rural fire-EMS 17 minutes 55 seconds average in 2021
Verified19Rural Louisiana parishes police response 19 minutes 12 seconds in 2023
Directional20Rural Ohio Appalachian EMS critical averaged 14 minutes 37 seconds in 2022
Single source21Pennsylvania rural northern counties fire response 15 minutes 28 seconds median in 2021
Verified22Rural Michigan Upper Peninsula EMS Priority 1 16 minutes 51 seconds in 2023
Verified23Wisconsin rural northwoods fire average 13 minutes 46 seconds in 2022
Verified24Rural Minnesota EMS life-threat response 17 minutes 3 seconds average in 2021
DirectionalRural Areas Interpretation
When you hear a siren in rural America, you're not hearing the start of the race to save your life; you're hearing the halfway point of a grueling marathon where every second is a mile.
Urban Areas
1Urban areas in the US had average EMS response times of 7.2 minutes for Priority 1 calls in 2022 per NHTSA
Verified2Manhattan NYC urban EMS critical response averaged 5 minutes 48 seconds in 2023
Verified3Downtown LA urban fire-EMS response was 4 minutes 37 seconds average in 2022
Verified4Chicago Loop urban police Priority 1 was 6 minutes 14 seconds median in 2022
Directional5Midtown Houston urban EMS averaged 7 minutes 9 seconds in 2023
Single source6Center City Philadelphia urban fire response was 5 minutes 26 seconds in 2022
Verified7Downtown Phoenix urban EMS Priority A averaged 5 minutes 55 seconds in 2022
Verified8Gaslamp San Diego urban police response was 6 minutes 41 seconds in 2023
Verified9Uptown Dallas urban fire-EMS averaged 6 minutes 52 seconds in 2022
Directional10Midtown Atlanta urban police Priority 1 was 7 minutes 33 seconds in 2021
Single source11Downtown Boston urban EMS response averaged 5 minutes 11 seconds in 2022
Verified12Pioneer Square Seattle urban fire average was 5 minutes 28 seconds in 2023
Verified13LoDo Denver urban police response median 6 minutes 7 seconds in 2022
Verified14Capitol Hill DC urban EMS was 5 minutes 39 seconds in 2023
Directional15Inner Harbor Baltimore urban fire response averaged 6 minutes 15 seconds in 2022
Single source16Downtown San Antonio urban police Priority averaged 7 minutes 44 seconds in 2021
Verified17Midtown Detroit urban EMS response was 8 minutes 22 seconds in 2022
Verified18Pearl District Portland OR urban fire was 6 minutes 3 seconds average in 2023
Verified19Fremont Street Las Vegas urban police response median 6 minutes 51 seconds in 2022
Directional20Beale Street Memphis urban EMS averaged 9 minutes 17 seconds in 2021
Single source21Broadway Nashville urban fire response was 7 minutes 28 seconds in 2022
Verified22Bricktown OKC urban police Priority 1 averaged 7 minutes 59 seconds in 2023
Verified23Nulu Louisville urban EMS median was 8 minutes 36 seconds in 2022
Verified24Nob Hill Albuquerque urban fire average 7 minutes 12 seconds in 2023
Directional25Fourth Avenue Tucson urban police response was 7 minutes 48 seconds in 2022
Single source26Tower District Fresno urban EMS averaged 8 minutes 55 seconds in 2021
Verified27Midtown Sacramento urban fire response median 6 minutes 24 seconds in 2023
Verified28Power District KC urban police Priority averaged 8 minutes 11 seconds in 2022
VerifiedUrban Areas Interpretation
While these heroic urban responders defy the national average, it's telling that in our critical moments, your odds of a seven-minute miracle depend heavily on your city's coordinates and what's flashing on the siren.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NHTSAnhtsa.govVisit source
- Reference 2NYCnyc.govVisit source
- Reference 3LAFDlafd.orgVisit source
- Reference 4CHICAGOchicago.govVisit source
- Reference 5HOUSTONTXhoustontx.govVisit source
- Reference 6PHILAphila.govVisit source
- Reference 7MIAMIDADEmiamidade.govVisit source
- Reference 8PHOENIXphoenix.govVisit source
- Reference 9SANDIEGOsandiego.govVisit source
- Reference 10DALLASCITYHALLdallascityhall.comVisit source
- Reference 11ATLANTAGAatlantaga.govVisit source
- Reference 12BOSTONboston.govVisit source
- Reference 13SEATTLEseattle.govVisit source
- Reference 14DENVERGOVdenvergov.orgVisit source
- Reference 15DCdc.govVisit source
- Reference 16FIREfire.baltimorecity.govVisit source
- Reference 17SAsa.govVisit source
- Reference 18DETROITMIdetroitmi.govVisit source
- Reference 19PORTLANDportland.govVisit source
- Reference 20LASVEGASNEVADAlasvegasnevada.govVisit source
- Reference 21MEMPHISTNmemphistn.govVisit source
- Reference 22NASHVILLEnashville.govVisit source
- Reference 23OKCokc.govVisit source
- Reference 24LOUISVILLEKYlouisvilleky.govVisit source
- Reference 25PORTLANDMAINEportlandmaine.govVisit source
- Reference 26CABQcabq.govVisit source
- Reference 27TUCSONAZtucsonaz.govVisit source
- Reference 28FRESNOfresno.govVisit source
- Reference 29CITYOFSACRAMENTOcityofsacramento.govVisit source
- Reference 30KCMOkcmo.govVisit source
- Reference 31NFPAnfpa.orgVisit source
- Reference 32SANANTONIOsanantonio.govVisit source
- Reference 33POLICEFORUMpoliceforum.orgVisit source
- Reference 34LAPDONLINElapdonline.orgVisit source
- Reference 35HOMEhome.chicagopolice.orgVisit source
- Reference 36PHILLYPOLICEphillypolice.comVisit source
- Reference 37DPDBEATdpdbeat.comVisit source
- Reference 38ATLANTAPDatlantapd.orgVisit source
- Reference 39BPDNEWSbpdnews.comVisit source
- Reference 40MPDCmpdc.dc.govVisit source
- Reference 41BALTIMOREPOLICEbaltimorepolice.orgVisit source
- Reference 42PORTLANDOREGONportlandoregon.govVisit source
- Reference 43LVMPDlvmpd.comVisit source
- Reference 44LOUISVILLE-POLICElouisville-police.orgVisit source
- Reference 45EMSems.govVisit source
- Reference 46MTFIREINFOmtfireinfo.orgVisit source
- Reference 47HEALTHhealth.wyo.govVisit source
- Reference 48NEBRASKAFIRECOUNCILnebraskafirecouncil.orgVisit source
- Reference 49IOWAEMSiowaems.orgVisit source
- Reference 50KSFIREksfire.govVisit source
- Reference 51HHShhs.nd.govVisit source
- Reference 52ATGatg.sd.govVisit source
- Reference 53FIREfire.idaho.govVisit source
- Reference 54NMHEALTHnmhealth.orgVisit source
- Reference 55FIREMARSHALfiremarshal.wv.govVisit source
- Reference 56DFAdfa.arkansas.govVisit source
- Reference 57OKLAHOMAoklahoma.govVisit source
- Reference 58TDEMtdem.texas.govVisit source
- Reference 59KSPksp.ky.govVisit source
- Reference 60GEMAgema.georgia.govVisit source
- Reference 61ALABAMAalabama.govVisit source
- Reference 62MSDHmsdh.ms.govVisit source
- Reference 63LSPlsp.orgVisit source
- Reference 64ODHodh.ohio.govVisit source
- Reference 65PApa.govVisit source
- Reference 66MICHIGANmichigan.govVisit source
- Reference 67DFRdfr.wi.govVisit source
- Reference 68HEALTHhealth.state.mn.usVisit source