Designate Dedicated Marine Unit
The SFFD covers 64 miles of jurisdiction, including 25 miles of coastline within the City and County of San Francisco.
Rapid Response
The SFFD is the lone Advanced Life Support (ALS) resource that is able to respond to medical emergencies on the San Francisco Bay with a Paramedic on the water. Currently, there are only two SFFD stations with watercraft capable of responding to emergencies from the coastline starting at Fort Funston all the way around the Cliff House, into the Bay, and as far south as Candlestick Park. If those Firefighters are busy fighting a fire or responding to other emergency calls on land, the SFFD watercraft goes unstaffed.
Both stations have different types of boats for responses. Station 16 in the Marina District is equipped with a fast response boat as well as jet skies which are vital to emergencies off the Marina area, outside the Golden Gate Bridge, to Lands End and Ocean Beach.
Station 35's fireboat is an excellent tool for fire suppression along the waterfront, but it's not designed for rapid response to water emergencies. Although there is a small skiff that can be deployed from the fireboat, Station 35 needs a faster, dedicated boat in addition to a crew of at least four more Firefighters to focus solely on water rescues in the Bay. Fire Station 35 is centrally located in the Bay and should be the site of a SFFD Dedicated Marine Response Station.
Increasing Surf and Cliff Rescues
Surf and Cliff Rescue calls have increased each year, culminating in a 400% increase over the 10 years leading up to 2018. Without changes in the way that the SFFD protects residents in and around the San Francisco Bay, the SFFD will not have the resources that are required to keep the Bay and those who use it safe.
New Development
The urgency for a dedicated Marine Unit is even greater today now that up to 40,000 new residents will be occupying the Bayview and Hunters Point redevelopment projects that will include a mix of apartments, townhomes, and condominiums with easy access to more open spaces on the water. With this influx of tens of thousands of San Franciscans returning to their old neighborhoods, they should be provided with the same level of safety and protection that is given to other residents so close to the water, such as the area surrounding Oracle Park with SFFD Fire Station 4 and the SFPD Southern Station nearby to service the local community.
Growing Demand
A dedicated SFFD Marine Unit will allow our Department to address the growing demand for marine rescue services in a timely, professional manner without pulling resources from other local SFFD Fire Stations. This Marine Unit would have the capability to deliver ALS on the water, allowing for the same delivery of lifesaving services on both land and sea.
“…those marine assets were absolutely instrumental in protecting the waterfront, in protecting the community during this incident.”
— Jonathan Baxter, SFFD PIO
Four-Alarm Fire Erupts at Pier 45
Around 4:15AM on May 23rd, a massive fire broke out at a warehouse on Fisherman's Wharf, threatening several businesses and a World War II-era ship based at Pier 45. More than 150 Firefighters responded by land and water to battle the inferno, successfully containing the fire to a section of the pier and saving the SS Jeremiah O’Brien. Unfortunately, the blaze destroyed a processing and storage warehouse and a quarter of the pier at Fisherman's Wharf, devastating the San Francisco fishing industry.
Truck 13 from the Financial District was the first on scene and the swift and aggressive actions taken by Fire Crews prevented the blaze from spreading. The St. Francis (Fireboat 3) was tasked with protecting the SS Jeremiah O'Brien, at times combatting flames greater than 100 feet in length lapping over the ship. The vessel would have been lost if it were not for the defensive fire attack waged by the St. Francis. Fireboat 1 was also critical in containing the fire, protecting the waterfront, and saving the SS Jeremiah O’Brien. Other marine assets, including Rescue Boat 1 staffed by Fire Station 16, positioned themselves around the wharf and assisted in the firefight as well.
Rescue Boat 1, fireboats, and jet skis respond to water emergencies where access by land is an issue.
Firefighters spent several hours extinguishing smoldering debris from the ground and aerial ladders, reaching containment at 11:30AM. In total, fifty pieces of firefighting apparatus were used to battle the blaze. Crews remained on scene throughout the holiday weekend to douse hot spots and prevent flare-ups. Unfortunately, one Firefighter sustained a severe injury to the hand and was treated at a local hospital.
This Memorial Day weekend, four-alarm fire at Pier 45 is a bleak reminder that a dedicated marine response is essential to a city surrounded on three sides by water.