A Letter From the President of San Francisco Firefighters Local 798.
Dear Friends,
San Francisco Firefighters IAFF Local 798 is honored to represent the more than 1,700 Firefighters, Paramedics, and Emergency Medical Technicians of the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD). The men and women of the SFFD go above and beyond the call of duty to provide exceptional service while risking their own health and safety.
Highlighted within this website, you’ll see how First Responders are asked to do more than ever in dangerous and difficult conditions. In 2019, San Francisco Firefighters responded to nearly 154,000 emergency calls for service – the busiest year in the history of our Department.
In 2020, COVID-19 has impacted every aspect of our lives, including our work and how we go about protecting ourselves, our families, and the people of San Francisco. This global pandemic has also underscored the need to reach and maintain full funding to support the work of our Firefighters serving on the front lines. As City leaders deliberate the budget for Fiscal Years 2020-21 and 2021-22, it is critical to continue providing first-class service and unparalleled patient care. The SFFD must secure adequate funding to:
• Increase Emergency Medical Service Resources
• Replace Aging Front Line Equipment & Infrastructure
• Restore Incident Support Specialists
• Designate a Dedicated Marine Unit
With our Local 798 Mission and Vision Statements in mind, we continue to be active stewards of the City we serve and most recently helped lead the effort to pass Proposition B, the earthquake safety and emergency response bond to ensure that San Francisco can rebound and rebuild after a major earthquake. During the hardest hit weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, our Firefighters were quick to spread the word about the importance of social distancing and avoiding large crowds with messages encouraging folks to stay home.
This sense of community is also why members of Local 798 commit countless hours of their own time giving back through the San Francisco Firefighters Local 798 Toy Program, the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation, and dozens of charitable efforts to benefit all individuals and families in our City.
As a proud SFFD Firefighter and lifelong San Franciscan, I am honored and privileged to serve as the President of the finest Firefighters and Paramedics in our nation. On behalf of the Executive Board and our dedicated members, I thank you for your support of our SFFD Firefighters.
Sincerely,
Shon Buford
President
San Francisco Firefighters
International Association of Fire Fighters Local 798
Mission
Advocate for our members to maintain and improve benefits, wages, and working conditions through collective bargaining to advance fairness and equality in the workplace for the betterment of the laboring class.
Vision
Achieve solidarity within our membership through education, engagement, and succession planning and solidify our brand by fostering community and political partnerships through public outreach.