Fire commission backs standalone Station 13 plan; chief outlines seismic rebuilds, PFAS‑free turnout rollout

The San Francisco Fire Commission on Aug. 27 voted to submit a letter supporting a revised build plan for Fire Station 13 and received updates from Chief Dean Crispin and department administrators on station seismic needs, equipment procurement and recent deployments.

Chief Dean Crispin, chief of department of the San Francisco Fire Department, told commissioners the department has concluded a seismic retrofit of Station 2 and Station 40 is not feasible and that several battalion stations were judged by a prior study to be in “seismic category 4” and will need rebuilding or major work. “We ecided that a seismic retrofit of Station 2 and 40 are not feasible,” Crispin said. He identified Station 2, Station 7, Station 40, Station 15 and the Bureau of Equipment among facilities that require urgent rebuild planning while noting the earlier assessment covered 10 battalion stations and that six were identified as unsafe in that study.

Why it matters: Commissioners were briefed that the department intends to seek capital funding in the city dministrator nd capital planning process for a 2028 bond measure (referred to during the meeting as the 2028 "Easter bond") to cover multiple rebuilds and related projects. Crispin said the administration and capital planning are negotiating how a projected $350,000,000 bond would be allocated across competing priorities, including water‑system projects and fire station construction.

The commission also heard program and operations updates: Crispin reported 15 San Francisco Fire Department members were deployed to the Pickett Fire in Calistoga and that the crews had achieved roughly 25% containment earlier in the deployment. He also listed recent interagency coordination with the Port of San Francisco over dredging and pier repairs at Leavenworth and Islais Creek so the department—ireboat can tie up and pump for extended periods in emergencies.

Assistant Deputy Chief Michael Mullen presented an updated build plan for Station 13, which the developer Related Companies changed from a station within a mixed‑use high‑rise footprint at 530 Sansom to a standalone facility at 447 Battery. Mullen said the new, standalone design increases the station—ootprint by about 2,500 square feet, keeps a four‑bay apparatus floor, adds a purpose‑built turnout drying and cleaning room, puts the gym away from the apparatus bay and will be ADA‑compliant and LEED Gold certified. “This station will also be ADA compliant, LEED Gold certified,” Mullen said. He described a basement training area, a mezzanine kitchen and day room, dormitory configurations with movable bathroom walls, and a rooftop training area and gym.

Commissioners expressed general support. President Marcy Frasier said the commission would prepare a letter of support rather than a new resolution; the motion to submit a letter as presented passed. The commission vote tallies and record from the meeting were: approval of minutes from the Aug. 13, 2025 meeting (motion passed with President Marcy Frasier, Commissioner Gaggio, Commissioner Armee Morgan and Commissioner Alan Lowe recorded as voting aye) and the Station 13 letter of support (motion passed with President Marcy Frasier, Commissioner Armee Morgan and Vice President Paula Collins recorded as voting aye; Commissioner Nakagio had left the meeting prior to that vote).

Other departmental items reported to the commission included: - A planned purchase of PFAS‑ and bromine‑free turnout gear. Deputy/assistant chiefs reported the department has initiated an order for 700 sets of PFAS‑free turnouts after positive sample testing; an initial 50‑piece sample was used for field trials and the department indicated about 40% of personnel will receive one set under the first distribution, with the newest academy classes slated to receive two sets. The department said it will pursue additional funding and discuss support with the union to equip more members. - Use of the San Francisco Foundation as a fiscal sponsor for apparatus purchases tied to donor contributions; staff said a memorandum of understanding with the foundation is being prepared. Chief Crispin and commissioners named Fred Blackwell as the San Francisco Foundation—xecutive director based on publicly available information cited during the meeting. - Ongoing staff work on recruitment, the behavior‑health unit and internal training; officials reported higher behavioral‑health call volume compared with the prior year and the department is reviewing employee usage data to refine programming.

What the commission decided and next steps: The commission voted to submit a letter of support for the revised Station 13 build plan as presented and asked staff to follow up on permit timing and construction estimates. Chief Crispin said seismic cost estimates for stations targeted in the 2028 bond request had been requested from Public Works and were expected within about two weeks. Staff and the developer projected permitting would wrap late this year or early next, with construction starting in 2027 under the current schedule presented to the commission.

The meeting also recorded routine approvals and reports; no ordinance or formal spending appropriation was adopted at this meeting.

Notes on meeting procedure: public comment was opened and closed at the start of several items; no substantive public comments were made on the record for the items described above.

Votes at a glance: the commission recorded two formal actions during the meeting that are reflected above: approval of the Aug. 13, 2025 minutes (motion passed) and a motion to submit a letter of support for the Station 13 build plan (motion passed).