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Commissioners press SFFD on aging firehouses and Station 7 funding
Summary
Multiple commissioners raised persistent maintenance problems at older fire stations, questioned where funding will come from to rebuild Station 7 and asked for more departmental planning; Chief Mullins and staff said capital planning is ongoing and the department reserves funds for catastrophic repairs.
Commissioners used the Sept. 25 meeting to press department leaders about long-standing facility needs, particularly the condition of Station 7 and recurring boiler and heating failures across older stations.
Commissioner Catherine Feinstein highlighted repeated questions about Station 7 and asked whether there were alternatives to waiting for a 2028 bond. "You can't wait until 2028," she said, urging the department and the commission to explore other strategies to move the station replacement forward.
Chief Mullins described maintenance realities across the 40-odd station portfolio: many buildings rely on older boilers and radiator systems, while a handful of newer stations have rooftop HVAC. He said the facilities budget posture is conservative — typically holding funds late in the fiscal year to respond to catastrophic failures — and that a per-station maintenance allocation (about $20,000) frequently falls short of larger replacement or boiler-repair costs.
Commissioners agreed station tours for decision-makers could help raise awareness; Deputy Chief Kailoa accepted the offer to coordinate follow-up visits. Separately, Chief Mullins said the permit for a security gate at Station 35 was approved and that work should begin within months to address theft concerns.
The commission did not vote on any capital appropriation at this meeting; commissioners and staff agreed to continue exploring funding options and to provide additional information on timelines and costs.
