EMS response times vary sharply by location and call type. Urban areas average 7.2 minutes for Priority 1 EMS, while rural counties average 15.3 minutes. That spread is enough to separate fast stabilization from a much more complicated outcome.
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
- 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
- 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
Across the US, EMS can reach Priority 1 cases in about 8 minutes, but rural areas often take over 15.
Related reading
01 · Category
EMS/Ambulance30 stats
01
In 2022, the national average EMS response time for life-threatening calls (Priority 1) in the United States was 8 minutes and 42 seconds
02
New York City's average ambulance response time for critical calls in 2023 was 6 minutes 51 seconds
03
Los Angeles Fire Department's EMS response time for Code 3 calls averaged 5 minutes 59 seconds in FY2022
04
Chicago's median EMS response time for emergent calls was 7 minutes 12 seconds in 2022
05
Houston EMS Priority 1 response time averaged 8 minutes 15 seconds in 2023
06
Philadelphia Fire Department's average response to cardiac arrest calls was 7 minutes 28 seconds in 2022
07
Miami-Dade County's EMS critical response time was 6 minutes 44 seconds on average in 2021
08
Phoenix Fire Department's EMS response for ALS calls averaged 6 minutes 22 seconds in 2022
09
San Diego's average ambulance arrival time for Priority A calls was 7 minutes 8 seconds in 2023
10
Dallas EMS response time for highest priority calls was 8 minutes 4 seconds median in 2022
11
Atlanta Fire Rescue EMS critical response averaged 9 minutes 17 seconds in 2021
12
Boston EMS average response to 911 medical emergencies was 6 minutes 55 seconds in 2022
13
Seattle Fire Department's EMS Priority 1 response time was 7 minutes 33 seconds average in 2023
14
Denver Health EMS response for life-threat calls averaged 7 minutes 19 seconds in 2022
15
Washington DC Fire-EMS critical call response was 6 minutes 47 seconds median in 2023
16
Baltimore City EMS average Priority 1 response time was 9 minutes 2 seconds in 2022
17
San Antonio EMS emergent response averaged 8 minutes 28 seconds in 2021
18
Detroit Fire Department EMS response to cardiac arrests was 10 minutes 15 seconds average in 2022
19
Portland OR EMS Priority A calls averaged 7 minutes 41 seconds in 2023
20
Las Vegas Fire & Rescue EMS critical response was 6 minutes 58 seconds in 2022
21
Memphis TN EMS life-threatening response averaged 11 minutes 3 seconds in 2021
22
Nashville Metro EMS Priority 1 average was 8 minutes 52 seconds in 2022
23
Oklahoma City EMS response for Code 1 calls was 7 minutes 26 seconds in 2023
24
Louisville KY EMS critical average response time was 9 minutes 14 seconds in 2022
25
Portland ME Fire EMS Priority response was 6 minutes 39 seconds average in 2021
26
Albuquerque NM EMS emergent calls averaged 8 minutes 7 seconds in 2023
27
Tucson AZ EMS life-threat response was 7 minutes 55 seconds median in 2022
28
Fresno CA EMS Priority 1 average was 9 minutes 33 seconds in 2021
29
Sacramento EMS critical response time was 7 minutes 12 seconds in 2023
30
Kansas City MO EMS response for highest priority was 8 minutes 46 seconds in 2022
Interpretation
EMS/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.
02 · Category
Fire Department28 stats
01
In 2021, NFPA reported national average fire department response time to structure fires as 5 minutes 21 seconds for first arrival
02
Los Angeles FD average response to fires was 4 minutes 45 seconds in 2022
03
New York FDNY first-due engine response to fires averaged 4 minutes 30 seconds in 2023
04
Chicago Fire Department response time to working fires was 5 minutes 8 seconds median in 2022
05
Houston FD structure fire response averaged 5 minutes 52 seconds in 2023
06
Philadelphia FD first arrival to residential fires was 6 minutes 14 seconds in 2022
07
Phoenix FD fire call response time averaged 4 minutes 58 seconds in 2022
08
San Diego FD response to structure fires was 5 minutes 22 seconds average in 2023
09
Dallas FD working fire response median was 6 minutes 7 seconds in 2022
10
Atlanta Fire Rescue fire response averaged 6 minutes 41 seconds in 2021
11
Boston FD first engine to fires was 4 minutes 52 seconds in 2022
12
Seattle FD fire incident response time averaged 5 minutes 19 seconds in 2023
13
Denver FD structure fire first arrival was 5 minutes 36 seconds in 2022
14
DC FD response to fires averaged 5 minutes 4 seconds median in 2023
15
Baltimore FD fire response was 6 minutes 28 seconds average in 2022
16
San Antonio FD first-due to fires was 6 minutes 55 seconds in 2021
17
Detroit FD working structure fire response averaged 7 minutes 12 seconds in 2022
18
Portland OR FD fire call average response was 5 minutes 47 seconds in 2023
19
Las Vegas FD response to residential fires was 5 minutes 13 seconds in 2022
20
Memphis FD structure fire first arrival averaged 7 minutes 33 seconds in 2021
21
Nashville FD fire response time was 6 minutes 9 seconds median in 2022
22
Oklahoma City FD fires averaged 6 minutes 24 seconds response in 2023
23
Louisville KY FD fire first-due was 7 minutes 1 second in 2022
24
Albuquerque NM FD structure fires response averaged 6 minutes 18 seconds in 2023
25
Tucson AZ FD fire calls median response was 5 minutes 59 seconds in 2022
26
Fresno CA FD response to fires was 7 minutes 28 seconds average in 2021
27
Sacramento FD first arrival fires averaged 5 minutes 44 seconds in 2023
28
Kansas City MO FD working fires response was 6 minutes 52 seconds in 2022
Interpretation
Fire 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.
03 · Category
Police/Law Enforcement28 stats
01
National average police response time to Priority 1 calls in US was 10 minutes 15 seconds in 2021 per PERF study
02
NYPD average response to life-threatening calls was 4 minutes 30 seconds in 2023
03
LAPD Priority 1 response time averaged 5 minutes 45 seconds in 2022
04
Chicago PD emergency response median was 7 minutes 22 seconds in 2022
05
Houston PD Priority 1 calls averaged 8 minutes 11 seconds in 2023
06
Philadelphia PD critical response was 6 minutes 58 seconds average in 2022
07
Phoenix PD life-threat response averaged 6 minutes 37 seconds in 2022
08
San Diego PD Priority A response was 7 minutes 14 seconds median in 2023
09
Dallas PD highest priority average response was 8 minutes 9 seconds in 2022
10
Atlanta PD emergency calls response averaged 9 minutes 28 seconds in 2021
11
Boston PD Priority 1 response was 5 minutes 19 seconds in 2022
12
Seattle PD critical response averaged 7 minutes 55 seconds in 2023
13
Denver PD life-threatening calls median was 6 minutes 43 seconds in 2022
14
DC Metro PD Priority 1 average was 6 minutes 8 seconds in 2023
15
Baltimore PD emergency response was 10 minutes 44 seconds average in 2022
16
San Antonio PD critical calls averaged 8 minutes 33 seconds in 2021
17
Detroit PD Priority response was 12 minutes 7 seconds median in 2022
18
Portland OR PD life-threat average was 8 minutes 16 seconds in 2023
19
Las Vegas Metro PD Priority 1 was 7 minutes 22 seconds in 2022
20
Memphis PD emergency response averaged 11 minutes 49 seconds in 2021
21
Nashville Metro PD critical average was 9 minutes 5 seconds in 2022
22
Oklahoma City PD Priority 1 response was 8 minutes 38 seconds in 2023
23
Louisville Metro PD life-threat median was 10 minutes 2 seconds in 2022
24
Albuquerque PD emergency calls averaged 9 minutes 17 seconds in 2023
25
Tucson PD Priority response was 8 minutes 44 seconds in 2022
26
Fresno PD critical average was 10 minutes 31 seconds in 2021
27
Sacramento PD life-threatening response median was 7 minutes 59 seconds in 2023
28
Kansas City MO PD Priority 1 averaged 9 minutes 26 seconds in 2022
Interpretation
Police/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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Rural Areas24 stats
01
Rural US counties had average EMS response times of 15.3 minutes for Priority 1 calls in 2022 per NHTSA rural report
02
Rural Montana average fire department response to emergencies was 14 minutes 22 seconds in 2021
03
Wyoming rural EMS life-threat response averaged 18 minutes 47 seconds in 2022
04
Rural Nebraska fire response time was 12 minutes 9 seconds median in 2023
05
Iowa rural counties EMS Priority 1 average 16 minutes 33 seconds in 2022
06
Kansas rural fire department response to structure fires averaged 13 minutes 55 seconds in 2021
07
North Dakota rural EMS critical calls 17 minutes 14 seconds average in 2023
08
South Dakota rural police response Priority 1 was 19 minutes 8 seconds in 2022
09
Rural Idaho fire-EMS combined response averaged 15 minutes 41 seconds in 2021
10
Rural New Mexico EMS life-threatening averaged 16 minutes 27 seconds in 2023
11
West Virginia rural counties fire response 14 minutes 52 seconds median in 2022
12
Rural Arkansas EMS Priority response was 17 minutes 6 seconds average in 2021
13
Oklahoma rural fire department average response 13 minutes 18 seconds in 2023
14
Rural Texas Panhandle EMS critical 15 minutes 44 seconds in 2022
15
Kentucky eastern rural police Priority 1 averaged 20 minutes 33 seconds in 2021
16
Rural Georgia fire response time was 16 minutes 9 seconds median in 2023
17
Alabama rural EMS averaged 18 minutes 22 seconds Priority 1 in 2022
18
Mississippi Delta rural fire-EMS 17 minutes 55 seconds average in 2021
19
Rural Louisiana parishes police response 19 minutes 12 seconds in 2023
20
Rural Ohio Appalachian EMS critical averaged 14 minutes 37 seconds in 2022
21
Pennsylvania rural northern counties fire response 15 minutes 28 seconds median in 2021
22
Rural Michigan Upper Peninsula EMS Priority 1 16 minutes 51 seconds in 2023
23
Wisconsin rural northwoods fire average 13 minutes 46 seconds in 2022
24
Rural Minnesota EMS life-threat response 17 minutes 3 seconds average in 2021
Interpretation
Rural 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.
05 · Category
Urban Areas28 stats
01
Urban areas in the US had average EMS response times of 7.2 minutes for Priority 1 calls in 2022 per NHTSA
02
Manhattan NYC urban EMS critical response averaged 5 minutes 48 seconds in 2023
03
Downtown LA urban fire-EMS response was 4 minutes 37 seconds average in 2022
04
Chicago Loop urban police Priority 1 was 6 minutes 14 seconds median in 2022
05
Midtown Houston urban EMS averaged 7 minutes 9 seconds in 2023
06
Center City Philadelphia urban fire response was 5 minutes 26 seconds in 2022
07
Downtown Phoenix urban EMS Priority A averaged 5 minutes 55 seconds in 2022
08
Gaslamp San Diego urban police response was 6 minutes 41 seconds in 2023
09
Uptown Dallas urban fire-EMS averaged 6 minutes 52 seconds in 2022
10
Midtown Atlanta urban police Priority 1 was 7 minutes 33 seconds in 2021
11
Downtown Boston urban EMS response averaged 5 minutes 11 seconds in 2022
12
Pioneer Square Seattle urban fire average was 5 minutes 28 seconds in 2023
13
LoDo Denver urban police response median 6 minutes 7 seconds in 2022
14
Capitol Hill DC urban EMS was 5 minutes 39 seconds in 2023
15
Inner Harbor Baltimore urban fire response averaged 6 minutes 15 seconds in 2022
16
Downtown San Antonio urban police Priority averaged 7 minutes 44 seconds in 2021
17
Midtown Detroit urban EMS response was 8 minutes 22 seconds in 2022
18
Pearl District Portland OR urban fire was 6 minutes 3 seconds average in 2023
19
Fremont Street Las Vegas urban police response median 6 minutes 51 seconds in 2022
20
Beale Street Memphis urban EMS averaged 9 minutes 17 seconds in 2021
21
Broadway Nashville urban fire response was 7 minutes 28 seconds in 2022
22
Bricktown OKC urban police Priority 1 averaged 7 minutes 59 seconds in 2023
23
Nulu Louisville urban EMS median was 8 minutes 36 seconds in 2022
24
Nob Hill Albuquerque urban fire average 7 minutes 12 seconds in 2023
25
Fourth Avenue Tucson urban police response was 7 minutes 48 seconds in 2022
26
Tower District Fresno urban EMS averaged 8 minutes 55 seconds in 2021
27
Midtown Sacramento urban fire response median 6 minutes 24 seconds in 2023
28
Power District KC urban police Priority averaged 8 minutes 11 seconds in 2022
Interpretation
Urban 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.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Catherine Wu. (2026, February 13). Emergency Response Time Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/emergency-response-time-statistics
MLA
Catherine Wu. "Emergency Response Time Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/emergency-response-time-statistics.
Chicago
Catherine Wu. 2026. "Emergency Response Time Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/emergency-response-time-statistics.
Sources & references
68 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level