FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore Appoints Michael J. Kavanagh as Chief Fire Marshal

April 27, 2026

The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore today appointed Michael J. Kavanagh to Chief Fire Marshal of the FDNY Bureau of Fire Investigation (BFI). Chief Kavanagh will oversee approximately 150 Fire Marshals of BFI who are responsible for investigating the cause and origin of thousands of fires in New York City.

FDNY Fire Marshals are law enforcement officers with the power to make arrests in arson and other fire-related criminal investigations. Their work provides critical information used by the Department to improve firefighter safety, identify fire trends, support criminal prosecutions, and guide public fire safety education efforts.

"Chief Kavanagh has dedicated his career to protecting New Yorkers and serving this Department," said Commissioner Bonsignore. "As a Firefighter, Fire Officer, Fire Marshal, and senior leader in the Bureau of Fire Investigation, he has responded to and investigated complex incidents and worked closely with our law enforcement partners to keep our city safe. As Chief Fire Marshal, he will lead an outstanding group of Fire Marshals whose work is essential to the safety of the public and the members of this Department."

About Chief Fire Marshal Michael Kavanagh

Chief Fire Marshal Michael Kavanagh reports directly to Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore. He most recently served as Assistant Chief Fire Marshal of the FDNY Bureau of Fire Investigation, where he directed daily operations of the Bureau, including staffing, major incident investigations, investigative teams, and specialized units. In that role, he collaborated with the NYPD, FBI, ATF, and District Attorney's Offices to support joint investigations and prosecutions.

Chief Fire Marshal Kavanagh joined the FDNY in 2001, assigned to Engine Company 39 and Ladder Company 16 in Manhattan. He was promoted to Fire Marshal in 2010, working in Citywide South and in the Special Investigations Unit. Kavanagh later served as a Lieutenant assigned to Ladder Company 151 from 2014 to 2017. Promoted to Supervising Fire Marshal in 2017, Chief Kavanagh worked in the Office of the Chief Fire Marshal and in Citywide South Command, overseeing daily operations of fire investigation units and complex fire investigations. Before joining the FDNY, he served as a New York City Police Officer in the 84th Precinct in Brooklyn from 1999 to 2001.

Chief Fire Marshal Kavanagh has been recognized throughout his career for exemplary service, including receiving the Deputy Commissioner Christine R. Godek Medal in 2014, awarded to an outstanding New York City fire marshal for unusual display of initiative, improving techniques, resourcefulness and capability in the investigation of arson. He also received 13 FDNY Bureau of Fire Investigation Unit Citation Awards for outstanding investigative contributions to major investigations and three FDNY Unit Citation Awards for outstanding company operations at fire and rescue incidents.

Chief Fire Marshal Kavanagh holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from Nassau Community College. He is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators and has completed advanced leadership, counterterrorism, fire investigation, and supervisory training through the FDNY and the FDNY Officers Management Institute (FOMI) at Columbia University.

Photo of Chief Fire Marshal Kavanagh