MAINLINEDecember 2009 - San Francisco Firefighters Local 798

NOPA’S FIREHOUSE 21
NoPa’s Firehouse
Permission to reprint granted by North of Panhandle News
By: Nicole Jones
21
Captain Nikki Griffey became a firefighter haphazardly.
Bored with her old job, she explains, “I just happened to be at the
right place at the right time.” Since being promoted to captain
of Firehouse 21 about 16 months ago, the Richmond native says
the best part of her job is spending 24-hour shifts with a crew she
enjoys working with.
Yet, with a city budget in crisis and public services like the San
Francisco Fire Department feeling its effects, Griffey and her
crew’s future is an uncertain one.
This past summer, the Board of Supervisors approved to slash an
additional $6 million from the Department. SFFD Public Informer
Mindy Talmadge said that another budget cut may result in the closure
of a fire company–and Firehouse 21 could be the first to go.
Temporary closures of fire companies, also known as “brownouts,”
were a reality for many stations in 2005 with Proposition
F. Although Station 35 has been the only one to permanently shut
down, Talmadge says this was due to the extreme costs required to
earthquake retrofit the already rotting building on the pier.
The criteria for determining which stations could be closed, Talmadge
explains, are determined by the SFFD‘s research department.
Call volumes and response times from one station to the
next are analyzed to determine which closure could have the least
impact on a particular area. Mandatory response times for an emergency
vehicle to reach the destination of any call must be under
four and half minutes. Talmadge says Firehouse 21 meets this
requirement before most other companies.
Captain Griffey and her crew, who respond to an average of five
or six emergency calls each day, worry that there would a longer
response time for the nursing home next door, in addition to the
already high volume of calls in The Haight neighborhood and
Golden Gate Park.
NoPa neighbors are not staying quiet on the matter. Life-time resident,
Kip Fuller considers Fire Station 21 a staple to the community,
adding that it would be devastating if they were forced to shut
down. “They’re the first responders to life-threatening situations,”
he commented, adding that they are good neighbors too. The crew
frequently shops at the Divisadero Farmers’ Market,
wave as they drive by and host field trips for local school
children.
“We want all our companies up and running, and providing
the same quality service in every neighborhood of
The City,” Talmadge said. “We have used every creative
bone in our body to prevent brown-outs and shut-downs,
and we’ll continue to try.”
Kip Fuller is starting a Facebook group with the crew
of Firehouse 21 to create more awareness about the
issue. Griffey says it’s important for the neighbors who
want to ensure the future of the firehouse to write a letter
to Mayor Newsom and talk to District 5 Supervisor
Mirkarimi to not make further cuts. The Mayor begins
meeting formally with citizens in February each year to
hear their concerns about the previous budget and how to
improve funding for public services.
“If The City thinks the people don’t care,” Griffey said,
“then it will be easier to get rid of us.”
Publisher’ Note regarding article by Nicole Jones:
I would like to acknowledge and thank Nicole Jones and
North of Panhandle News for their gracious article and
permission to reprint it in the Main Line. I would also
like to acknowledge the officers and members of Station
21 for their hard work and dedication to The City and
its’ residents.
However, there are a couple of inaccuracies contained
in the article. Mindy Talmadge does not hold the rank
of Lieutenant and is the SFFD “Public Information Officer,”
not the “SFFD Public Informer.” Additionally, while
“brown-outs” did occur in 2005 because of a budgetary
shortfall, Proposition F which was approved by the
voters, eliminated the dangerous practice of rotating
firehouse closures, aka “brownouts.”
Stephen V. Giacalone