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Deputy chief reports strong response times, flags Market Street bike-lane safety concern and urges drone study
Summary
Deputy Chief Mark Gonzales reported April operations and EMS statistics (BLS 90th-percentile 4.93 minutes), summarized recent greater alarms and rescues, warned that Market Street protected bike-lane design may impede aerial ladder operations, and commissioners requested presentations on drones and mental-health supports for first responders.
Deputy Chief Mark Gonzales, standing in for Chief Joanne Hayes White, delivered the department's operations and EMS report and raised a policy concern about a transportation project on Market Street.
Gonzales briefed the commission on April activity, including three greater alarms, multiple rescues and an increase in run volume during an April 21 power outage. He said the department's BLS 90th-percentile response time for the month was 4.93 minutes and that ambulance 90th-percentile response remained under the city target (reported under 8.5 minutes). Gonzales credited field units and dispatch for triaging calls and maintaining first-unit response.
On system strain during the power outage, Mark Corso said run volume rose (a ~16% increase was cited) and the department handled 41 elevator extrications during the event; Corso said no additional staff were brought in on overtime and the department used existing on-duty resources.
Gonzales told the commission that SFMTA "unanimously approved the Upper Market Street safety project despite our objections and our concerns," citing overhead Muni wires on Market Street that could hamper aerial ladder deployments and rescue access. He said the fire department had collaborated with MTA on many projects but identified Market Street as having a uniquely problematic combination of overhead wires and building access for aerial ladders. Gonzales told commissioners the department may pursue collaborative remedies with MTA and noted the department has stop-work authority if needed.
Commissioners expressed strong interest in technology to improve surf and cliff rescues and asked the department to present on drones and thermal-imaging capabilities. Commissioner Joe Alioto Veronese and others urged an expedited policy review; Gonzales agreed drones would enhance situational awareness but said they would complement, not replace, existing aerial operations.
Other items in the chief's report included: a review of outreach and recruitment efforts; a planned defibrillator procurement process with potential vendor bids in June or July; changes to county EMS protocols so EMTs can administer intranasal naloxone (Narcan) and EpiPens after training; and continued work on an interfacility-transfer policy to ensure private providers are used before 911 resources are diverted for non-emergency transfers.
Commissioners also addressed personnel and operational issues: pediatric cardiac arrests and stress-unit response, surf-and-cliff-rescue equipment and staffing increases, H20 lieutenant exam timing and civil-service review, and requests for future agenda items including TASC/Market Street policy review, the department's drone application and operational policy, and an evaluation of the stress unit and mental-health supports for firefighters.
