In a move that signals the beginning of a more robust fire department in San Francisco, Mayor Daniel Lurie has signed a new piece of legislation to rejuvenate the city's fire response capability. According to the Mayor's office, the legislation will allow for the solicitation of private donations to fund the purchase of new fire engines, trucks, and ambulances, critical tools in the city's fight against fires and other emergencies.
The legislation, which saw the joint efforts of Mayor Lurie, District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan, and Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, could not come at a more pressing time. With close to 90% of the city's ambulances exceeding their five-year service life, and a significant portion of the SFFD fleet aging beyond recommended standards, getting involved with the modernization push was, as Mayor Lurie put it in a recent Instagram post, aimed at making sure our "first responders have the tools they need to keep San Francisco safe."
The Mayor's commitment to emergency preparedness was further showcased through the ReadySF campaign and his participation in a preparedness exercise at Fireboat Station 35. Joining a community-based training through SFFD’s Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT), Mayor Lurie encouraged San Franciscans to get prepared and get involved. The city's efforts have also successfully managed major events such as the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference and the safest recorded Chinese New Year Parade weekend, coinciding with NBA All-Star Weekend.
