San Francisco Fire Department reports $3.1 million in federal grants, flags equipment and AWSS needs

Chief of Department Joanne Hayes White reported to the Fire Commission on Sept. 26 that the department is concluding fiscal‑year closeout work and has been awarded federal grants to address equipment needs.

Hayes White said the department received a Fiscal Year 2018 FEMA Port Security grant for $399,562 to acquire a rescue boat and a Fiscal Year 2017 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant worth approximately $2,700,220 for rescue tools and defibrillators for apparatus. She reported the total of these recent federal awards as roughly $3.133 million and said both grant programs include small matching requirements that the department has identified funding to meet. “We're really grateful for these awards,” she told the commission.

The chief said the department plans to present the grants to the commission for formal acceptance at a future meeting and that the positions of a full‑time grant writer and other planning staff are being advanced to manage grant activity.

Hayes White also summarized safety and standards work, noting a multi‑year effort to develop an NFPA standard (referred to in the transcript as NFPA 1802) on two‑way portable radio devices for emergency services following line‑of‑duty deaths; the draft standard is in open comment and the department has participated in the process.

On operations and readiness, deputy and assistant chiefs reported on ongoing promotions, an incoming class of paramedics and firefighter training hours; support services noted orders for engines and SUVs, receipt of state wildland rigs and an awarded PPE cleaning/maintenance and replacement contract. Janine Nicholson (Deputy Chief of Administration) described facility request backlogs and a planned ambulance deployment facility with a budgeted project cost of roughly $30.4 million and a notice to proceed anticipated in October 2018.

The commission asked about interim measures for the Auxiliary Water Supply System (AWSS). Nicholson and other staff described options including adding pumpable hose‑tenders (satellite rigs with pumps and 5,000 feet of hose) to provide interim water supply in a major event; staff said such vehicles could cost approximately $1 million each and would be far less expensive than large‑scale AWSS expansion, although the long‑term AWSS work remains necessary.

Commissioners praised the grant wins and department efforts on NFPA standards and training. Several follow‑up items were requested, including documentation related to recent awards and facility repair lists for commissioners to review.

Formal acceptance of the federal grants and related action items are pending and will be presented to the commission in upcoming meetings.