Fire commission hears training totals and plans new officers academy

SAN FRANCISCO — At the May 23 Fire Commission meeting, Deputy Chief Janine Nicholson gave a detailed administrative and training report, outlining current recruit-class status, in‑service training numbers and a plan for an officers academy for department officers.

Nicholson said the physician’s office completed 33 probationary and permanent physicals and 50 return‑to‑work evaluations. "The ISB, Investigative Services Bureau, [conducted] 107 drug and alcohol tests, all negative," she reported. On recruit training, the 120th (fourth) class is a 54‑member cohort that was split between engine and truck assignments for testing; the class is midway through multi‑week engine/truck testing and the department has lost two recruits to injury.

Nicholson provided department training totals for April: roughly 270 members participated in in‑service suppression training, accounting for approximately 2,200 training hours; EMS in‑service training involved more than 1,300 members and about 5,600 hours. Fire reserves logged 293 hours of drills and volunteer activity; the department’s outreach unit (NERD) ran 29 events with roughly 220 volunteers.

On leadership development, the department intends to convene a five‑day officers academy in August or September, aimed at new and recently promoted officers. "We will keep you apprised," Nicholson told commissioners; she said the curriculum is in development and that past sessions were videotaped and made available online. Commissioners asked to be invited to observe and requested the syllabus once it is finalized.

Nicholson also described special‑project work to expand officer training and noted the department’s emphasis on leadership, health and wellness and management topics.