Controversial Report Would Eliminate Truck at Station 14

By Carol Dimmick

A controversial report by the city controller concludes that a major overhaul of the SF Fire Department could save taxpayers $13 million this year, in part, by eliminating fire trucks and engines from fire stations across the City, including in the Richmond and Sunset districts.

The report, which was presented April 29 to the Budget Committee of the SF Board of Supervisors by Controller Ed Harrington, proposes sweeping changes that would affect how the fire department deploys its personnel to fight fires and treat medical emergencies.

Harrington told committee members that there is enough redundancy in the system from low workloads at certain fire stations to allow reductions without affecting the standard five-minute response time to calls.

"Because you have an engine or a truck that's ready to respond, that doesn't make it the appropriate response. You might use the city's resources in a better way," Harrington said.

The report makes a number of sweeping proposals it says will save the City up to $30 million without hurting the delivery of services.

The cutbacks that would have the most immediate impact on the Richmond and Sunset districts are the recommendations to eliminate one engine company and reduce the staff of one fire truck at Station 18 in the Sunset, and eliminate a fire truck with capability to reach five-story buildings, or taller, at Station 14 in the Richmond.

The proposals were met with immediate skepticism from Supervisor Jake McGoldrick, who said he had trouble believing it was possible to get a ladder truck to respond to a fire in his district in five minutes if the cutback at Station 14 stands.

"There is no way you are going to get a truck even into the mid-Richmond in time," he said.

McGoldrick also pointed out that the ladder truck Harrington recommended eliminating was the one that was instrumental in preventing an even greater disaster when a fire killed two people on April 10 in the Sea Cliff area.

Supervisor Fiona Ma urged caution when cutting critical services that could affect safety.

"I urge no closures of any neighborhood fire stations. I also ask that there be no layoffs, especially during these difficult times and ask the administration and department to look at creative ways to maintain our critical services," she said.

Katherine Alba-Swanson, a Sunset resident and a firefighter on Engine 18 questioned the accuracy of some of the report's conclusions.

"If you eliminate Engine 18, Engine 40 or 23 would have to cover. It's a very large area to cover even if they are available," she said.

The budget committee is expected to hear additional testimony on the recommendations at a future meeting and a complete copy of the report can be found on the controller's website.