Commission flags facility maintenance gaps, DPW markup and Treasure Island emergency water work

Commissioners used the July 26 Fire Commission meeting to press the San Francisco Fire Department on facility maintenance and procurement practices, and to get details about bond-funded projects and emergency water infrastructure for Treasure Island.

Deputy Chief Shane Kailoa said support services processed 110 requests for service in June and completed 116 service orders; the department recently hired an on-staff plumber to reduce costs and response time. Chief Nicholson explained efforts to hire other trades staff have been slow due to city hiring processes and earlier denials of similar requests; commissioners emphasized the potential savings from in-house trades versus contracting with Public Works.

Commissioners noted that Public Works retains a first right of refusal for many projects and discussed what staff described as an effective 40% markup Public Works applies to work it performs for other departments. Chief Nicholson said the markup covers administrative and overhead costs that Public Works must carry, and commissioners urged exploring alternatives to reduce what they described as an unfair burden on fire stations.

On capital projects, staff discussed EASER bond work packaged into discrete project 'packages' and the acceptance of a new hose tender capable of pumping 5,500 gallons per minute. Assistant Deputy Chief Gareth Miller described emergency water planning on Treasure Island, where four high-pressure hydrants have been installed to augment domestic supply and the department is exploring a fixed manifold and hose cabinet; Miller said a saltwater pumping station to supply the system is expected to be completed in 2028.

Why it matters: aging firehouses and long procurement cycles with outsized markups can increase maintenance backlogs and costs, potentially affecting response readiness; bond-funded improvements and Treasure Island's emergency water system are intended to mitigate risks for major incidents.

Next steps: staff said they are tracking costs and will report back on potential hires for key trades, contracting strategies to limit markups, and detailed timelines for bond-funded packages and Treasure Island manifold installation.