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SFFD outlines 15‑unit ambulance order, new vehicle design and switch to fentanyl on ambulances
Summary
Deputy and assistant chiefs told the commission the department has ordered 15 ambulances (10 due mid‑to‑late February, 5 more within 60–90 days), is adopting a smaller chassis with a 360‑degree camera, and has switched EMS analgesia policy from morphine to fentanyl per county medical direction.
San Francisco Fire Department operations staff told the Fire Commission Dec. 12 that the department has placed an order for 15 new ambulances and is changing EMS medication protocols.
Assistant Deputy Chief Tony Rivera said the department "are in the process of ordering 15 new ambulances for our EMS Division. We expect delivery of 10 of the units in mid to late February and then 5 additional units, probably within 60 to 90 days thereafter." Rivera said the vehicle selected is a Ford E‑350 chassis with a smaller footprint and added safety features, including a 360‑degree driver camera to improve visibility on narrow city streets.
Commissioners asked about security and surveillance at a new ambulance deployment facility and station construction timelines. Staff said they had discussed cameras and signage for the new depot and that station openings (including Station 16) were tied to contractor schedules and Department of Public Works approvals; staff declined to give firm dates beyond "end of this year" for several openings.
On medication policy, Tony Moy (operations section chief for EMS) said the city’s EMS medical directors and the EMS agency have moved to fentanyl as the preferred ambulance analgesic, and "we have deployed fentanyl ... for patients ... who are having pain on a pain scale over 6 per the county policy." Moy and other staff explained the dose used on ambulances is regulated and lower than illicit overdose exposures and that providers are trained to monitor patients.
Deputy Chief Mark Gonzales summarized recent operational highlights: a greater alarm grass fire on Nov. 9, mutual‑aid deployments to Butte County and Southern California, recent training and academy graduations, and ongoing work to stabilize ambulance staffing through a paramedic per‑diem and voluntary overtime programs.
