Administration report details drones, health and wellness pilots, and major facility project plans

Deputy Chief Shane Kailoa presented the San Francisco Fire Department's administration report for March, summarizing homeland security coordination, training exercises, technology acquisitions and facility projects.

Kailoa said Chief Erica Arceres Brown participates in frequent local, state and federal meetings to maintain situational awareness and coordinate planned events and unexpected incidents. He highlighted a heat and air-quality tabletop exercise with the Department of Emergency Management and about 100 participants and monthly K-9 drills coordinated with California Task Force 3 out of Menlo Park.

On technology, Kailoa said, "We purchased 3 drones that will be showing up shortly, hopefully within the next month or 2 months." He added the department expects an additional drone through a UASI grant and that Chief Arceres Brown continues to pursue grant funding to expand the drone program for training and incident camera capability.

Kailoa outlined behavioral health and wellness initiatives: peer-support and critical-incident training, a chaplaincy manual, a "Kayak on the Lake" pilot intended to build community and reduce stress among staff, and a Paws for Purple Hearts program at Stations 12 and 32 for veterans. He also noted a forthcoming Stanford University study and a draft annual health exam being reviewed by Local 798.

Administrative improvements include a new digital background packet for H2 background processing developed with the city attorney's office and HR; the packet is live though Kailoa said there are some glitches and resources are available for applicants without a computer. Support-services updates covered boilers, roofs, HVAC replacements (Station 26 work under way; Station 9 units received) and multiple apparatus upfitting projects.

Kailoa described a major SFDOT training-site project that has reached design-to-budget status; staff adjusted building footprints to take advantage of soils and reduce piling depth and cost. When a commissioner asked whether drilling would reach bedrock, Kailoa confirmed drilling to bedrock is planned though specific drilling methods remain under discussion.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about geotechnical work and thanked staff for outreach and recruitment partnerships with schools and SF GovTV. The administration report concluded with no formal votes but multiple follow-up items for department staff.