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SF Fire reports 54-member North Bay deployment, eight new engines and ongoing fleet planning
Summary
Chief Joanne Hayes White updated the commission on operations: San Francisco sent 12 engines and 54 personnel to the North Bay fires, the department is taking delivery of eight new engines and pursuing a five-year fleet replacement plan, and ambulance deployment/reimbursement and recruit-academy staffing were discussed.
San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes White told the Fire Commission Oct. 25 that the department mobilized multiple strike teams to support the North Bay wildfires, is receiving new apparatus this fall, and continues planning to expand and replace aging vehicles.
Chief White said eight new engines are due to be delivered in the coming weeks and that "there's already engine 13 on the street." She credited staff work on specifications and said the department will apply for a fleet-exemption so it can retain additional reserve units rather than turn in all older apparatus. On mutual aid, the chief said the department sent 12 engines and 54 members north to Sonoma and Napa counties, with most deployments lasting about 10 days.
On reimbursements, White said the department receives full deployment reimbursement under Californias master mutual aid plan, "portal to portal," covering pay for deployed personnel and certain overhead costs. The department also described donations and equipment sharing: older ambulances have been earmarked for donation to local schools (Galileo High School and John O'Connell High School) and the department has previously donated engines to the Public Utilities Commission for non-emergency uses.
The chief also updated the commission on recruit academies: the 123rd academy is in its fifth week with 54 members and the 124th class is anticipated to start in March, with similar sizing.
Commissioners asked questions about rotation and relief for deployed crews, fleet auction procedures and possible interagency transfers of retired apparatus. Staff said retired vehicles are turned in to central shops and then auctioned under the city's contract; proceeds go to the General Fund. No policy changes were adopted at the meeting.
