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Fire department says it is ready for Chase Center opening; commissioners probe medical coverage
Summary
San Francisco Fire Department leaders told the Fire Commission they have run drills and coordinated with Chase, the MTA and emergency management ahead of the Chase Center opening and confirmed Chase will have private on-site medical coverage including ambulances and a clinic.
Chief of Department Janine Nicholson told the Fire Commission the department has completed drills and interagency planning for the Chase Center opening and is confident it can protect lives and property in and around the venue. "We are absolutely ready. We're good to go," Nicholson said during the commission meeting.
Nicholson said initial no-siren drills highlighted slower responses, prompting the department to work with Chase, the Municipal Transportation Agency, the Department of Emergency Management and field units to adjust deployment strategies and traffic routing. Assistant Deputy Chief Mike Cochran, Homeland Security, said Chase had been "very open" and described a "robust Homeland Security vision" that included citywide table-top exercises and close cooperation with city agencies.
Commissioner Kim Cleveland asked whether Chase Center will maintain its own private ambulance service and staff. Nicholson confirmed Chase has a medical plan with two ambulances on-site and an internal clinic, and said the venue's medical team has been working with department leadership. "They have their own medical plan. They have 2 ambulances within Chase Center and a medical group in there," Nicholson said.
The department said it has also discussed alternative traffic routes and which units to deploy to incidents near the stadium to avoid delays seen in initial tests. Officials said planning will continue, and the department will share further operational details as drills and coordination evolve.
The commission did not take formal action on Chase Center operations during the meeting. The next steps noted were ongoing interagency drills and continuing data collection from exercises and planning meetings.
