Sandra Sanchez
Director, Community Affairs
1. Please introduce yourself—your name, your title and the year you joined the FDNY.
My name is Sandra Sanchez, and I am the director of Community Affairs. I joined FDNY in 2016, drawn by a shared mission to protect lives and strengthen the bond between operations and the community we serve. I believe that public safety begins with public connections.
2. Where are you currently assigned, and what are your main responsibilities?
As the director of Community Affairs, my role centers on building meaningful connections between our firefighters, our EMTs/paramedics and the community we serve. I lead initiatives that foster trust, transparency and collaboration, ensuring that every resident feels seen, heard and protected. From developing fire safety education programs in schools and promoting mobile CPR programs to coordinating neighborhood outreach and public awareness campaigns, I strive to make safety a shared responsibility. I work closely with community boards, local partners, civic organizations and community leaders to promote preparedness, prevention and resilience. My vision is to create a culture where engagement goes beyond response, where the Fire Department is not only a symbol of protection in emergencies but also a proactive partner in empowering and uniting the community. Through dialogue, education and innovation, I aim to strengthen the bond between our Department and the people we serve, ensuring that together, we build safer, stronger neighborhoods.
3. What inspired you to choose a life of public service with the FDNY?
I was inspired to choose a life of public service because I’ve always believed that the strength of a city lies in the connections between its people. The FDNY represents courage, compassion and commitment, which are values that resonate deeply with me. I was drawn to community engagement because it allows me to bridge the gap between operations and the diverse communities we serve, helping to build trust before, during and after times of crisis.
What drives me most is knowing that engagement can save lives, not just through fire prevention or safety education, but by fostering understanding, equity and collaboration. Every conversation, outreach event and partnership is an opportunity to make someone feel safer, more informed and more connected to their city.
4. Can you share one of your most memorable moments on the job?
Nothing compares to witnessing the moment when a community program touches lives in tangible and meaningful ways. In this way, impact becomes more than a training; it’s a lived experience.
One such incident was coordinating a training session for Bureau of Fire Prevention colleagues at FDNY Headquarters. No one could have imagined that weeks later, that very training would become the difference between life and death. A colleague was found unresponsive on the ground. Drawing on their new skills, they immediately began compressions until help arrived. The experience was a powerful reminder: Training saves lives.
5. When you hear the words “We Are FDNY,” what does that mean to you?
“We Are FDNY” is more than a statement of identity; it is a declaration of unity, service and shared purpose. It reminds us that the FDNY is composed not only of firefighters, EMTs/paramedics and officers, but also every member—civilian and uniformed—who contributes to protecting and uplifting New York City. Strategically, it speaks to collective accountability that our strength lies in collaboration, diversity and the trust we build with the public we serve.
“We Are FDNY” means inclusion. It reflects the belief that every New Yorker has a place in our mission, whether through partnership, preparedness or participation. It’s about transforming the Fire Department from something people call in an emergency into something they feel connected to every day. It challenges us to listen as much as we lead, to reflect on the communities we serve and to ensure that our actions mirror the compassion, courage and unity those words represent.
6. What would you say is your “superpower”—a strength or skill you bring to your work?
My superpower is being a “bridge builder,” connecting the mission of the Fire Department with the heartbeat of the community. I bring the ability to translate public service into personal impact, helping New Yorkers see the FDNY not just as first responders but also as partners in prevention and preparedness.
7. How does your role help advance the FDNY’s mission of public safety?
Public safety begins long before an emergency call. It starts with awareness, trust and collaboration. Community investment and education are the foremost fire prevention strategies. In this role, I work to build those foundations every day by creating meaningful partnerships, delivering education and outreach and ensuring that every member of the community feels informed, empowered and connected to their fire department.