NEW YORK — FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro will retire next month after serving four decades with the department. 

Nigro, who became an FDNY firefighter in November 1969, will step down on Feb. 16, the department confirmed in a press release Friday.

“Since the day I raised my right hand 53 years ago and followed my father into the greatest fire department in the world, I have been blessed, privileged and truly honored to serve the people of our great city,” the commissioner said in a statement.

“On days of triumphant rescues and during times of unimaginable loss, the members of the FDNY —  our firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, fire marshals, fire inspectors, and civilian staff — have always answered the call,” he added. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as their Fire Commissioner."

Mayor Eric Adams has yet to name Nigro's successor. In his own statement, the mayor said he and the commissioner "have had an amazing relationship over our long careers in public service."

"He's a tireless champion for New Yorkers, and a friend who I've leaned on time and again," Adams said. "From overseeing the heroic 9/11 rescue and recovery efforts to leading the FDNY's unwavering response during the pandemic, Dan has worked tirelessly to protect all New Yorkers."

"New Yorkers, whether they know it or not, are all safer because of the work he's done and owe him their thanks," he went on to say. "Dan defines public service and will be deeply missed by me and the entire department."

Nigro, whom former Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed commissioner in June 2014, was the FDNY’s Chief of Operations at the time of the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001, following his promotion to the role in 1997, the department said in its release.

After 9/11, he replaced Peter Ganci, Jr. — who died in the attacks — as the FDNY’s Chief of Department, overseeing rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site, the release said.

A year later, he temporarily retired before returning as commissioner in 2014, according to the release.

Most recently, Nigro oversaw the FDNY’s response to a fire that tore through an apartment complex in the Fordham Heights section of the Bronx, killing 17 people, including nine adults and eight children. 

Nigro “is the fourth longest-serving Fire Commissioner in FDNY history, and one of only six individuals to hold every rank in the department,” the agency noted in its release.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story said Nigro served more than five decades with the FDNY. The commissioner temporarily retired from the department in 2002.