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Chief reports progress on academies, fleet upgrades and 150th anniversary activities
Summary
Fire Chief Ace White told commissioners the department is operating within the current fiscal-year budget, has 54 recruits in the current academy, expanded paramedic training, promotions scheduled, and is coordinating with other city agencies on bike-lane access and warehouse safety following the Oakland fire.
Fire Chief Ace White reported to the Fire Commission that five months into the fiscal year the department's expenditures and revenues were on track and that, if trends continue, operations should remain within the allocated budget.
On staffing and training, Chief Ace White said 51 members graduated from the 120th academy and a subsequent academy that began Nov. 28 had 42 recruits, later increased to 54 with an inter-station adjustment after an early resignation. He said the department's per-diem paramedic pool is about 85 people; 16 members completed a paramedic "bump up" in November and roughly 10 more were scheduled for January to move from EMT to paramedic level.
Chief White summarized the department's 150th-anniversary events and thanked staff and volunteers who supported award ceremonies, community meals and a celebration attended by roughly 600 people. He credited volunteers and partners (including Lyft and a local restaurant) for providing roughly 500 meals to stations and noted several promotion lists and awards.
The chief also described interagency coordination: SFFD has been meeting with the city's transit agency on bike-lane corridors (Seventh/Eighth Street and Turk Street) to protect access for large apparatus, and has worked with other city agencies and Department of Building Inspection on warehouse safety following the fatal Oakland warehouse fire. "If it's an immediate life-safety risk, dialing 911 is appropriate, and we will immediately respond," he said, and he encouraged members of the public to report unsafe occupancies.
Commissioners asked for a future agenda item to explore warehouse inspections and outreach to arts and warehouse communities; Chief White and staff said they would agendize the issue when appropriate.
The commission heard additional administrative updates from Deputy Chief Ramona Williams on vehicle and facility work: several ambulances delivered (total six), three more on order, engines ordered from the manufacturer Ferrera, and solar panels being installed on ambulances and other apparatus to reduce dead-battery calls and emissions.
