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Fire Chief reports third-alarm fire and department pilots quick-response and EMS6 programs
Summary
Deputy Chief Mark Gonzales reported a third-alarm fire with one civilian fatality that remains under investigation and updated commissioners on budget timetables, training classes and pilot quick-response vehicles (QRV) and an EMS6 frequent-caller initiative showing early reductions in repeat calls.
The San Francisco Fire Department told the Fire Commission on May 9 that it is continuing to balance staffing, training and new response models while investigating a serious residential fire that prompted a third alarm and one civilian fatality.
Deputy Chief Mark Gonzales briefed commissioners on operations and incidents since the April 25 meeting. Gonzales said a third'alarm fire on April 21, at a multi-story building, resulted in two injuries and one civilian fatality; "The cause of this fire still remains under investigation," he said. Initial reports described intense heat and smoke that made interior advancement difficult and an extended exterior and breaching operation to contain the fire.
Chief Joanne Hayes White also updated the Commission on budget planning: the mayor's balanced budget is expected June 1 and the department will present to the Budget & Finance Committee on June 15 with public comment opportunities later in the process.
On emergency medical services, department leaders described two operational initiatives aimed at improving first-response efficiency: a Quick Response Vehicle (QRV) pilot placed into service April 16 and the EMS6 frequent-caller coordination program. The QRV is a nontransport squad-type vehicle staffed by two personnel that can assess and resolve lower-acuity calls to keep engines and ambulances available for more serious responses. "They're averaging about 14 calls per 12 hour shift," Deputy Chief Gonzales said of the QRV's early activity.
Medical and EMS leaders said preliminary data show the EMS6 effort has reduced repeat calls among the highest-frequency users. Dr. Yeh, who spoke about EMS6 coordination, said adding an EMS6A staff position increased capacity to coordinate with social and health services and that early figures show reduced call frequency for priority clients. Commissioners asked staff to provide more detailed monthly statistics and to pass relevant data to the mayor's office to support budget and grant requests.
Commissioners requested continued reporting on QRV performance, EMS6 metrics and soft-story (seismic retrofit) compliance data from the Building Department, and praised outreach and training efforts at the airport and station projects. The Commission did not take new formal action on operations items at the meeting; the department will return with budget and operational updates at future meetings.
