SF Fire Department reports increase in staffing, cancer-screening pilot, and equipment upgrades amid budget concerns

Chief Janine Nicholson and Deputy Chief Tom O'Connor briefed the San Francisco Fire Commission on Dec. 14 about recent department activity and operational priorities, focusing on staffing gains, employee health screening and equipment upgrades.

Nicholson opened by announcing the department’s 130th recruit class graduated on Nov. 18, adding 45 new field members, and noted an 18-person city EMT graduation. She also announced two new assistant deputy chiefs—Sean Buford (diversity, equity and inclusion) and Darius Lutrop (earthquake safety and emergency response bond oversight)—and asked the commission to close the meeting in memory of former commissioner Michael Hardeman.

Deputy Chief Tom O'Connor provided a longer October–November operational report. He described outreach and recruitment events, urban search-and-rescue drills, canine FEMA/USAR certifications and planned improvements to fleet and facilities. O'Connor said the department conducted a Galleri multi-cancer sequencing screening across multiple test sites (headquarters, the airport and Station 49), testing roughly 1,171 members; he said much of the effort was funded by a bequest from the late John Boscacci to the Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation. O'Connor said the department designated a physician to handle positive results and that negative results will be delivered by letter.

Commissioners pressed on turnout-gear replacement and chemical exposure concerns. O'Connor said the department has acquired what he described as "probably the healthiest turnouts in the nation," but acknowledged one layer still contains PFAS; he said just under 100 members have the new set and the department hopes to outfit the rest over about three years, contingent on the budget and supply-chain issues. O'Connor warned that completing a full replacement immediately would cost tens of millions of dollars and that rollout timing could not be guaranteed.

Budget pressures were also raised. Chief Nicholson said the department expects a multi-year deficit and that budget instructions will request cuts; she noted Prop F funds are removed from the department baseline before cuts. Commissioners and staff flagged the training facility as a multiyear capital investment where careful oversight will be critical to ensure voter-approved dollars are spent appropriately.

Next steps: the department will return with more detailed budget guidance and a fuller report on the behavioral health unit in January, and the commission will consider the training-facility oversight structure and future updates on equipment procurement.