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SFFD chief outlines staffing, EMS 6 needs and coronavirus preparedness
Summary
Chief Janine Nicholson told the Fire Commission that SFFD is seeking resources to sustain EMS 6 while supporting the city's Whole Person Care work, and explained the department’s role in recent emergency planning tied to a mayoral local emergency declaration for coronavirus preparedness.
Chief of Department Janine Nicholson delivered the department’s monthly report on Feb. 26, highlighting recruitment, training and several operational priorities the commission should note.
Nicholson said the department has retooled recruitment panels to diversify hires, described training updates at the academy (including live‑fire and active‑shooter training), and summarized support‑services work on station repairs and new apparatus inspections. She emphasized occupational health initiatives — including a cancer cohort study in collaboration with researchers — and said the department signed an MOU to provide therapy services at stations.
On EMS 6 and Whole Person Care, Nicholson said EMS 6 has been effective at connecting high‑need 911 callers to services and that the Department of Public Health’s Whole Person Care program is asking for cross‑department support; she told commissioners the department will request additional resources in the budget to maintain EMS 6 operations while supporting the citywide program. Commissioners pressed for more detail on budget requests; Nicholson said she planned to speak with the mayor about funding and would provide specifics to the commission the following week.
Nicholson also briefed commissioners on the city’s pandemic preparedness: she noted the mayor declared a local state of emergency to provide staffing flexibility, accelerate contracting and allow for future state and federal reimbursement related to coronavirus readiness. The chief said SFFD is collaborating with DPH on sheltering, clinical staffing and outreach to vulnerable populations and that EMS 6 and community paramedicine activities are integral to the city’s approach.
Commissioners asked follow‑up questions about language access for community programs, the timeline for station 49 opening (reported on schedule for December), the status of the training facility study and suicide‑prevention training for members. Nicholson reported plans for additional briefings and asked the commission to support resource requests in the next budget cycle.
