San Francisco Fire Commission reviews major October fires, on‑bay rescue and EMS performance

The San Francisco Fire Commission on Nov. 9 received detailed operations reports on a string of October incidents, an on‑bay rescue that medical staff credited with a life‑saving pleural decompression, and updates on ambulance staffing and new apparatus acquisitions.

Chief Joanne Hayes White told the commission the department graduated 51 probationary members from its 120th academy class, and that per‑diem paramedic staffing now totals about 85 to help meet surge demands. “We graduated 51 members that entered into their first field assignments as early as the next morning,” Hayes White said.

Deputy Chief of Operations Mark Gonzales reviewed three greater‑alarm responses in October. He described an Oct. 1 second‑alarm at 2997 Harrison Street that extended into attic and upper floors, and an Oct. 7 second‑alarm at First Avenue (reported as a unit dispatched for Noriega) that produced multiple civilian injuries. Gonzales also detailed an Oct. 20 fourth‑alarm incident at Hattie Street and Corbett that resulted in four firefighter injuries, including one broken wrist; investigators traced the origin to a failed gas meter in a garage area.

Gonzales and other staff credited individual crews and commanders for containing the incidents. “All companies on scene operated effectively, efficiently, and very aggressively,” he said, noting specific commendations for engine and truck crews.

The commission also heard about a water rescue under the Bay Bridge in late October in which Coast Guard personnel recovered a man from the bay and SFFD personnel provided advanced life support and rapid transport to San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH). Gonzales said the team arrived on scene, stabilized the patient and completed transport code‑3; time from dispatch to arrival at SFGH was reported as 27 minutes.

Lieutenant Ronald Johansson and paramedic John Drake performed an emergency right pleural decompression aboard Rescue Ambulance 48 during the transport, a prehospital intervention the department said immediately improved the patient’s oxygenation. “Pleural decompression…is a truly life‑saving skill that can be managed by prehospital care,” ADC Jeff Myers told the commission while explaining the procedure and its indications.

On EMS performance, Gonzales reported ambulances met the department’s 10‑minute response milestone 90.5% of the time and that SFFD ambulances accounted for 76% of the market with 5,493 transports in the reporting period. He said the department is addressing higher call volume and preparing for additional staffing and equipment needs; two new ambulances have been received pending EMSA permits.

Chief Hayes White also announced fleet purchases tied to mixed funding: nine ambulances in the current acquisition plan, of which five are grant‑funded, two are from the city general fund and two were purchased with a private donation. She said Bernard and Barbara Osher provided $350,000 that covered two ambulances. “We’re very appreciative of their generosity,” Hayes White said.

The commission’s report package included plan‑review and investigation numbers: permit review fees of $422,324 and 104 open active fire investigation reports through July 2016, an increase of six from the previous month.

Commissioners commended crews for the rescues and the recent graduation, and requested that Lieutenant Johansson and Paramedic Drake be formally acknowledged at a future meeting. The department said it will provide a draft of its strategic plan to commissioners before the Dec. 14 meeting and continue work on hiring and station planning tied to EMS performance metrics.