Fire Commission approves $13.76 million FEMA SAFER grant to hire 36 firefighters

The San Francisco Fire Commission voted unanimously on Dec. 9 to recommend that the Board of Supervisors authorize the Fire Department to accept and expend a $13,760,604 FEMA SAFER grant to hire 36 new firefighters. President Francie Covington said she was “so excited to get this money” and urged a prompt Supervisors' approval.

The resolution (listed as Resolution 2023 on the agenda) was introduced under Item 5. Commissioner Ken Cleveland moved to approve the measure and Vice President Katherine Feinstein seconded. President Covington, Commissioner Nicasio and Commissioner Tony Rodriguez recorded affirmative votes during the roll call; the chair declared the motion unanimous with four commissioners present.

City officials said the funding will support new hires intended to bolster staffing and response capacity. The motion, as approved by the commission, instructs the department to pursue the grant acceptance and any required city approvals. The resolution text in the meeting packet specified the grant amount and that it is intended for the hiring of 36 firefighters.

The next procedural step is Board of Supervisors authorization of the grant acceptance and appropriation of funds. Commission leadership asked staff to coordinate with the mayor's budget office and with the Board to expedite the transfer so hires can proceed under FEMA timelines.

No public comment on the resolution was recorded during the meeting. The commission's vote was recorded as unanimous; the public record at the meeting includes the motion, seconder and the roll-call acknowledgements described above.