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SFFD reports rising EMS strain, Narcan uptick and seeks drone variance under new privacy ordinance
Summary
At the Sept. 11 San Francisco Fire Commission meeting, SFFD leaders reported increased EMS demand and hospital turnaround times, a 29‑incident rise in Narcan administrations in August, and said FEMA approved drone equipment but a new city surveillance ordinance requires a City Attorney variance before deployment.
The San Francisco Fire Department told the Fire Commission on Sept. 11 that operational pressure on EMS units is increasing and that new technology approved with federal grant funds cannot yet be used because of a recently passed city surveillance ordinance.
Chief Janine Nicholson and Deputy Chief Victor Wersch each delivered short reports on department activity. Wersch told commissioners the department handled 21 working fires in August, performed three cliff rescues and five bay rescues, and reported the department rescued 15 civilians in August (not counting routine medical transports). Wersch also highlighted community programs: Mission High School’s fire‑EMS program enrolled 37 students (15 female), and the department made 85 service referrals, creating about 40 successful connections for clients.
Wersch said the EMS 6 team recorded roughly 1,021 total calls from high‑frequency callers in the period cited, with 47.8% of those callers self‑identifying as…
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