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Provides fire and emergency medical services to the City and County of San Francisco, California. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) provides firefighting, hazardous materials response services, technical rescue services and emergency medical response services to the City and County of San Francisco, California.
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Operational area | |
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Agency overview[1] | |
Established | 12/25/1849-Volunteer Department 03/02/1866-Paid Department |
Annual calls | 135,091 (2015) |
Employees | 1,700 (2023) |
Annual budget | $526,500,000 (2025) |
Staffing | Career |
Fire chief | Sandra Tong (interim) |
EMS level | ALS & BLS |
IAFF | 798 |
Facilities and equipment[2] | |
Divisions | 2 |
Battalions | 10 |
Stations | 44 (Plus 3 at SFO) |
Engines | 44 |
Trucks | 20 |
Ambulances | 31 ALS |
Tenders | 1 |
HAZMAT | 1 |
USAR | 1 |
Airport crash | 4 |
Wildland | 4 - Mini-Pumpers |
Fireboats | 2 |
Website | |
Official website | |
IAFF website |
The first great fire in San Francisco originated on Christmas Eve, 1849. By the time it burned itself out; fifty buildings were gone at a loss of $1,500,000. On Christmas night several citizens who had been firemen in the East met and formed fire companies. Heading the group was Frederick D. Kohler who was chosen as the first Chief. The Town Council held a special called meeting that afternoon and passed a resolution to organize a fire department.[3][4] The resolution states, in part, “Therefore…..to protect the town against another such calamity by organizing fire companies”, and the San Francisco Fire Department was born. Town Council met on January 28, 1850, and formally elected Kohler as the first Chief Engineer of the San Francisco Fire Department.
The legal basis for the origin of the Paid Department stemmed from legislation titled, "An Act to Establish a Paid Fire Department for the City and County of San Francisco." (Approval by the State Legislature was granted on March 2, 1866.) The Act provided for a five-man Board of Fire Commissioners to manage the affairs of the department. The Fire Department consisted of a Chief Engineer, two Assistant Chiefs, one Corporation Yard Keeper and six steam fire engine companies. Each engine company was to have one foreman, one engineer, one driver, one fireman, and eight extra or "call" men. There were two Hook-and-Ladder Companies each consisting of one foreman, one driver, one tillerman and twelve extra men. Additionally, there were three Hose Companies, each consisting of one foreman, one driver, one steward and six extra men. During April 1866, the Board of Supervisors purchased four steam fire engines and one hose reel from the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company of Manchester, New Hampshire. This purchase was made at a cost of $17,655. In July of the same year the Supervisors also bought twenty-seven horses to provide motive power for the new and heavier equipment. One of the first acts of the new Board of Fire Commissioners was to appoint the department executive officers. On October 6, 1866, Franklin E. R. Whitney was appointed chief engineer; H.W. Burckes, First Assistant Chief; and Charles H. Ackerson, Second Assistant Chief. The department went into active operation on December 3, 1866, making it the first paid Fire Department West of the Mississippi. Daniel Hayes, was appointed Superintendent of Steamers, Tom Sawyer, Corporation Yard Keeper, and John L. Durkee, Fire Marshal
In 1906, the department was considered on a par with those of the larger cities on the East Coast, but found itself reduced to fighting the fire of 1906 in the quake aftermath with axes and shovels, as most of the city's water mains were broken and cisterns drained. Fire Chief Dennis T. Sullivan suffered mortal wounds in his home by a falling chimney early in the disaster and subsequently died in the hospital.
In 1955, Earl Gage Jr. was hired as the first Black firefighter. His work as director of community services is credited with diversifying the department.[5]
Below is a full listing of all fire station and company locations in the City & County of San Francisco according to Battalion and Division.[6] As of 2019, SFFD has purchased several Ferrara Engines and Two New Ferrara Tillers. One Tiller is getting assigned to Truck 13 and the other tiller is still unknown
There are also three SFFD-operated fire stations located at the San Francisco International Airport in San Mateo County.
San Francisco Fire Department, in conjunction with American Medical Response and King American Ambulance, provide 911 emergency medical services in San Francisco. SFFD ALS Ambulances are dynamically deployed from Station 49 throughout the city to cover various districts as needed. Paramedic Supervisors, Rescue Captains, are stationed at Station 13 (Financial District), Station 31 (Richmond District), Station 11 (Mission District), Station 43 (Excelsior District). A 24/7 administrative Rescue Captain is stationed at Station 49.
The SFFD has two fireboats that are docked at Pier 22+1⁄2. Fireboat 1, the Phoenix, was constructed in 1954 and is fitted with three deck monitors, a water tower, a crane and two under pier monitors.[7] The boat is 89 feet (27 m) and outfitted with two 500 horsepower (370 kW) engines giving a top speed of 15 knots (17 mph; 28 km/h).
A new 85-foot fireboat (Fireboat 3) was christened the St. Francis in October 2016.[8][9][10]
Fire Station | Neighborhood | Engine Company | Truck Company | Special Unit | Battalion Chief Vehicle, Division Chief Vehicle, Rescue Captain Vehicle, EMS Chief Vehicle or EMS Operations Chief vehicle | Battalion | Division |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | South of Market | Engine 1 | Truck 1 | Rescue Squad 1 | 2 | 3 | |
2 | Chinatown | Engine 2 | Truck 2 | Battalion Chief 1 | 1 | 2 | |
3 | Tenderloin | Engine 3 | Truck 3 | 4 | 3 | ||
4 | Mission Bay | Engine 4 | Truck 4 | 3 | 3 | ||
5 | Fillmore District | Engine 5 | Truck 5 | Light Rescue 5 | Division Chief 2 | 5 | 2 |
6 | Castro | Engine 6 | Truck 6 | Decontamination Unit 1 | 2 | 3 | |
7 | Mission District | Engine 7 | Truck 7 | Light Rescue 7, Rescue Squad 2 | Division Chief 3 | 6 | 3 |
8 | South Beach | Engine 8 | Truck 8 | Battalion Chief 3 | 3 | 3 | |
9 | Dogpatch | Engine 9 | Truck 9 | Battalion Chief 10 | 10 | 3 | |
10 | Presidio Heights | Engine 10 | Truck 10 | CBRNE 1 | 5 | 2 | |
11 | Noe Valley | Engine 11 | Truck 11 | Battalion Chief 6, Rescue Captain 3 | 6 | 3 | |
12 | Haight-Ashbury | Engine 12 | Truck 12 | 5 | 2 | ||
13 | Financial District | Engine 13 | Truck 13 | CO2 Unit 1, Mobile Command 1 | Rescue Captain 1 | 1 | 2 |
14 | Outer Richmond | Engine 14 | Truck 14 | Cliff Rescue 14 | 7 | 2 | |
15 | Ingleside | Engine 15 | Truck 15 | Battalion Chief 9 | 9 | 3 | |
16 | Marina District, Marina Green Fort Mason | Engine 16 | Truck 16 | Rescue Boat 1, Rescue Water Craft 1, Rescue Water Craft 2 (Kept at San Francisco Marina Craft Harbor) | 4 | 2 | |
17 | Bayview-Hunters Point | Engine 17 | Truck 17 | Portable Hydrant Tender 17 | 10 | 3 | |
18 | Outer Parkside | Engine 18 | Truck 18 | Surf Rescue 18 | 8 | 2 | |
19 | Stonestown Galleria Fort Funston | Engine 19 | Truck 19 | Cliff Rescue 19
Haz-Mat. Assist Trailer |
9 | 3 | |
20 | Laguna Honda Reservoir / Twin Peaks | Engine 20 | Mobile Air Unit 1, Mobile Air Unit 2, Pollution Control Unit, Mobile Air Support Trailer 1 | 8 | 2 | ||
21 | Panhandle | Engine 21 | Attack Hose Tender 21, Utility Unit 1 | Battalion Chief 5 | 5 | 3 | |
22 | Sunset District | Engine 22 | Portable Hydrant Tender 22 | 7 | 2 | ||
23 | Outer Sunset District | Engine 23 | 8 | 2 | |||
24 | Eureka Valley | Engine 24 | 6 | 3 | |||
25 | Dog Patch | Engine 25 | Mini-Pumper 25, Multi-Casualty Unit 1 | 10 | 3 | ||
26 | Glen Park | Engine 26 | 6 | 3 | |||
28 | North Beach | Engine 28 | 1 | 2 | |||
29 | Design District | Engine 29 | Decontamination Unit 2 | 2 | 3 | ||
31 | Inner Richmond | Engine 31 | Battalion Chief 7, Rescue Captain 2 | 7 | 2 | ||
32 | College Hill | Engine 32 | Mini-Pumper 32 | 6 | 3 | ||
33 | Oceanview | Engine 33 | 9 | 3 | |||
34 | Lands End | Engine 34 | Surf Rescue 34 | 7 | 2 | ||
35 | Pier 22+1⁄2 | Engine 35 | Phoenix Fireboat 1, St. Francis Fireboat 3 | 3 | 3 | ||
36 | Civic Center | Engine 36 | Haz-Mat. 1, Haz-Mat. 2 | Battalion Chief 2 | 2 | 3 | |
37 | Potrero Hill | Engine 37 | 10 | 3 | |||
38 | Pacific Heights | Engine 38 | Battalion Chief 4 | 4 | 2 | ||
39 | Forest Hill | Engine 39 | Multi-Casualty Unit 2 | 9 | 3 | ||
40 | Inner Parkside | Engine 40 | Battalion Chief 8 | 8 | 2 | ||
41 | Nob Hill | Engine 41 | 1 | 2 | |||
42 | Portola | Engine 42 | Portable Hydrant Tender 42 | 10 | 3 | ||
43 | Excelsior | Engine 43 | Mini-Pumper 43, OES Unit 248 | Rescue Captain 4 | 9 | 3 | |
44 | Visitacion Valley | Engine 44 | Mini-Pumper 44 | 10 | 3 | ||
48 | Treasure Island | Engine 48 | Truck 48 | Rescue Ambulance 48, Hose Tender 48, Portable Hydrant Tender 48 | 3 | 3 | |
49 | India Basin | ALS Medic Units, BioMed Unit, Arson Unit, Logistics Units, Supply Units | EMS Chief, EMS Operations Chief, Rescue Captain | 10 | 3 | ||
51 | Presidio of San Francisco | Engine 51 | 4 | 2 |
All apparatus at SFO go by the 'Rescue' call sign, whether Engine, Truck, ARFF Crash, Medic Unit, or Command SUV.
Fire Station Number | Location | Engine (Rescue) Unit | Truck (Rescue) Unit | Medic (Rescue) Unit | ARFF Crash (Rescue) Unit | Command (Rescue) Unit | Other Units |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | West end of airport | Rescue 54 | Rescue 47 | Rescue 91 | Rescue 1 | Rescue 67 (Rescue Captain) | Rescue 81 (Multi-Casualty Unit) |
2 | Intersection of four runways | Rescue 2 & 12 | Rescue 61 (Utility), Airboat 51, RHIB, Rescue 55 (40' long Firefighting/Rescue Boat) | ||||
3 | South end of airport | Rescue 33 | Rescue 93 | Rescue 3 | Rescue 65 (Battalion Chief) | SFO 3 & SFO 4 (Bike Medics) |
Throughout the history of the San Francisco Fire Department there have been several fire companies which have been closed due to budget cuts and the restructuring of engine company numbers in 1972–1973.
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