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Fire commission hears details on new H23 promotive rank and H8 hiring pipeline
Summary
The commission heard details on a new promotive administrative rank (H23) for paramedic/EMT ranks and the ongoing H8 per‑diem hiring pipeline; chief and deputies said H23 is intended to create a promotion path and not supplant existing ranks.
The San Francisco Fire Commission spent substantial time on July 12 reviewing staffing pathways the department is developing, including a new promotive administrative rank (H23) and the H8 per‑diem hiring stream.
Deputy Chief Mark Gonzales and Chief Joanne Hayes White said a general order creating the H23 rank has been issued; the position is intended as a promotive, administrative rank above H3 level paramedic classifications to provide a career ladder where none existed. Gonzales said the department has emphasized in writing to DHR that the H23 is "not our intent to supplant" existing rescue captain ranks and that the rank will be administrative and provide day‑shift support at Station 49.
Chief Hayes White reported the H23 application period was open and "we've had approximately 15 submissions," and she reiterated the department’s goal to create promotive opportunities without displacing current roles.
On hiring, Assistant Deputy Chief Andy Zanoff described the H8 per‑diem process: the department expects a class size between 22 and 24 for the upcoming H8 cohort after a second round of interviews; earlier testing for level‑one exams listed about 400 applicants for entry‑level classifications. Commissioners noted H8 can serve as a pathway to permanent positions and asked staff to clarify testing cadences and next steps for candidates.
Union opposition to H23 was mentioned in the operations report; Gonzales said the union may challenge the change but the department is proceeding with applications and intends to develop promotional testing and acting assignments as next steps. Commissioners requested updates on how H23 will interact operationally with H33 rescue captain duties and asked for continued outreach to members as the new rank is implemented.
