The New York Fire Department (FDNY) has canceled its annual calendar of six-pack abs and hunks due to lukewarm sales.
The Calendar of Heroes made its final debut in 2021 after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The FDNY confirmed the cancellation to the New York Daily News (NYDN), saying the drool-worthy calendar isn’t bringing in enough revenue like in previous years. Previously, the $16 calendar raised between $150,000 and $250,000 a year for the foundation.
“Unfortunately, the calendar hasn’t been a great fundraiser in recent years,” FDNY spokeswoman Amanda Farinacci told NYDN. “Sales and thus the income for the foundation have fallen significantly.
‘[The calendar] has always been a fun project, but the foundation is solely focused on raising funds to support fire safety and life safety education and training for FDNY members.’
The FDNY confirmed the cancellation of the Heroes’ Calendar, saying the drool-worthy calendar isn’t bringing in enough revenue like in previous years
Previously, the $16 calendar raised between $150,000 and $250,000 a year for the foundation
The foundation is separate from the fire department but raises money for equipment and training.
While fans might be sad that New York’s hottest firefighters aren’t gracing their monthly calendar for 2023, members of the department aren’t so sad that it is.
“We’re not crying or gritting our teeth that the calendar isn’t coming out,” an FDNY official told the NYDN.
Launched in 2003, the once-profitable calendar was a running joke for those brave enough to actually fight fires.
“We would always want to know when the auditions are,” one official said. “We would send our heaviest guys there and let them try to sign up.”
The Calendar of Heroes made its final debut in 2021 after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic
According to the NYDN, more than 100 firefighters would compete each year for the 12 coveted spots.
In 2014 the calendar added women and three years later the foundation split the calendar into two versions: the men’s and women’s editions. And in 2019, they added animals to the mix.
The last edition was filmed just before March 2020 when the world was plunged into Covid chaos and the Big Apple became a ghost town. During that time, firefighters had more 911 calls than ever before, leaving them no time to get naked for a sexy photo in front of a New York landmark.
In 2014 the calendar added women and three years later the foundation split the calendar into two versions: the men’s and women’s editions
Late last year, just as they were preparing for another photo shoot, the foundation scrapped the calendar entirely, saying there were no plans for a 2024 calendar
However, they’re not totally opposed to bringing the calendar back if there’s demand for it. “If so, we’ll be sure to make that known,” an official said
“We had other things to do at the time,” an NYDN official said.
Late last year, just as they were preparing for another photo shoot, the foundation scrapped the calendar entirely, saying there were no plans for a 2024 calendar.
However, they’re not totally opposed to bringing the calendar back if there’s demand for it.
“If that’s the case, we’ll be sure to publicize it,” an NYDN official said.
More than 100 firefighters would strive for the 12 coveted places each year
The calendar took a hiatus during the COVID-19 years as firefighters grapple with an influx of 911 calls
The calendar first made its debut in 2003 (pictured)
Leslie Silbert, whose cat was once photographed for the calendar, hopes they’ll take the handsome men and fit women to social media and make it “more personal, with short videos rather than just stills.”
“Last month I shared a new Australian calendar online – smart firefighters posing with different species of animals – and people swooned so much. Including me!’ she told the NYDN. “But there’s something nicer than making said swoon for our local fire foxes.”
The foundation is now focused on its upcoming 1st Annual FDNY Foundation Climb to SUMMIT event, where people will raise money as they race 1,100 feet to the top of the SUMMIT One Vanderbilt building in Midtown.