San Francisco fire officials warn of urgent fleet shortfall, cite $50—100 million replacement estimate

San Francisco Fire Department officials told the Fire Commission on Oct. 23 that the department is critically low on reserve apparatus and is pressing the city for funding to replace engines and trucks.

"We have one reserve engine and one reserve truck left in our fleet," Deputy Chief Shane Kayealoha said during the department's administrative report, describing the issue as "alarming." He said the department has briefed the mayor's budget office, engaged the Board of Supervisors and sought a report from the Controller's Office to document the shortfall.

Commission discussion framed the shortage as an operational and public-safety risk if the department were to lose an additional frontline vehicle. According to Kayealoha, a comprehensive fleet replacement plan would require on the order of $50 million to $55 million at current prices. "That document has been shared," he said, urging patience but stressing the need for outside review and funding.

Commissioners asked whether staff had translated the need into a concrete budget request or timeline; Kayealoha said work is ongoing with the mayor's budget office and the Controller's Office to support advocacy but cautioned that results are not immediate. He also said the department has compiled comparative materials from other cities to underscore the necessity of replacement.

The commission did not take formal action on a funding request at the meeting. The department said it will continue to press the mayor's office and supervisors and report back as the audit and budget conversations progress.