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SFFD leaders brief commission on training, health programs and event readiness
Summary
Chiefs Sandra Tong and Shane Kailoa told the San Francisco Fire Commission about recent recruitment and training efforts, new ambulances and dive equipment, behavioral-health programming and planning for major 2025 events; commissioners pressed for details on cancer screenings, BHU uptake and drone operations.
Chiefs from the San Francisco Fire Department updated the Fire Commission on personnel, health and operations at the commission’s Sept. 25 meeting.
Deputy Chief Shane Kailoa opened the department’s administrative report with a rundown of August activity, saying the department is deep in planning for a string of large 2025 events, including the NBA All‑Star Game, Super Bowl and World Cup. He told commissioners the department had completed event action plans and coordination with other city, state and federal partners. "We are in the process of finishing up, and so we'll know at the next meeting how many of those have successfully passed and are now paramedics," Kailoa said about the academy classes.
The report also highlighted recruitment and outreach efforts such as a Stanford pilot program and the Pathway for Kids initiative, plus delivery of six new ambulances and new scuba dive communications equipment — the first dive equipment upgrade in about 15 years. Kailoa noted the department’s training and health units are expanding behavioral-health and resiliency programming within the academies and the field.
Commissioners pressed for more detail on the department’s occupational-health work. Commissioner questions focused on the cancer-screening program and its methods; Kailoa said screenings start with a questionnaire and that the department would provide additional detail on later phases. "It is to start with the questionnaire," he said, adding he would check on subsequent testing steps.
On mental‑health support for personnel, Kailoa said resources include counselors in the Behavioral Health Unit, the department’s Lighthouse app and the city Employee Assistance Program. "There are counselors through the BHU, also through our Lighthouse app. There's also the, EAP, the city EAP as well," he said.
The report also noted ongoing background and probation screenings and continued station and fleet work managed by Support Services.
The commission did not take further formal action on these reports; department leaders committed to supplying follow-up data on screening methods and uptake.
