Mayor Lurie, Supervisor Chan, President Mandelman Partner to Pave Way For Upgrades to Fire Department Fleet

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie, joined by District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan and Board President Rafael Mandelman, today introduced legislation to unlock private funding to revamp the San Francisco Fire Department’s (SFFD) fleet and support the department’s lifesaving work.

Since appointing Dean Crispen as SFFD chief on his second full day in office, Mayor Lurie has supported the city’s emergency preparedness work, participating in a multiagency preparedness exercise at Fireboat Station 35 in January. He has also encouraged San Franciscans to “get prepared, get involved,” joining a community-based training through SFFD’s Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT). Under Mayor Lurie’s leadership, San Francisco has successfully executed a safe J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, which will return to the city in 2026, and the safest Chinese New Year Parade weekend on record, coinciding with NBA All-Star Weekend.

“Public safety is our number one priority—and that means making sure our first responders have the tools they need to save lives,” said Mayor Lurie. “This legislation allows us to pursue new sources of funding so we can modernize our fleet, respond faster in emergencies, and keep San Franciscans safe.”

“I am grateful for the partnership with the Mayor and his Fire Department to seek funding outside of public sources to invest in vital firefighting equipment and engines,” said Supervisor Chan. “This series of legislation will equip our fire department and ensure our fire fighters can keep San Francisco safe.”

“Ensuring our firefighters and emergency responders have access to modern, reliable equipment is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. At the same time, in this year of significant fiscal challenges, it just makes sense to allow the mayor to pursue all available sources of funds to invest in the safety of our residents and the resilience of our city's emergency response infrastructure,” said Board President Mandelman. “I’m happy to support Mayor Lurie’s efforts.”

San Francisco’s fire apparatus fleet is aging rapidly. Over 63% of the city’s fire engines, 87% of fire trucks, and 70% of reserve vehicles are more than 10 years old. Nearly 90% of the city’s ambulances have exceeded their five-year service life. As of April 11, 2025, SFFD has seven frontline fire apparatus and 20 reserve vehicles over 25 years old, as well as four frontline apparatuses from the 1970s, still in service.

The behested payment waiver legislation will enable the mayor and fire chief to solicit private donations specifically for the purchase of fire engines, trucks, and ambulances—equipment that is essential to public safety but increasingly expensive and difficult to replace.

“Frontline fire apparatus is essential for fire protection in a community. Proper procurement, training, maintenance, and replacement are crucial for practical use. Investing in state-of-the-art apparatus highlights the importance of staying ahead of evolving emergency service needs and supports safe and efficient operations,” said SFFD Chief Dean Crispen. “This legislation is a step forward in securing funding for a safer and better prepared San Francisco.”

National fire safety standards recommend replacing most fire apparatus after 15 years of frontline service and removing them from service entirely after 25 years. Ambulances should be replaced after five years and decommissioned after seven. Delays in replacement due to rising costs and long manufacturing timelines pose serious risks to emergency response capabilities.