On January 18, in the midst of the devastating wildfires in Southern California, Mayor Daniel Lurie of San Francisco participated in a firefighting exercise at Fireboat Station No. 35 (22 ½ Pier) to strengthen the city’s emergency response capabilities.
During the exercise, the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) showcased advanced emergency firefighting water supply systems (EFWS) and key firefighting equipment such as the St. Francis Fireboat and high-pressure hydrant systems.
The EFWS system is designed to address shortages or overload in municipal water supply systems and can be activated during major fires, earthquakes, or other emergency situations. It includes two saltwater pump stations, five fireboats, mobile hydrant systems, and 200 strategically located water storage tanks. In the exercise, the St. Francis Fireboat successfully pumped water into the main pipeline system to supply high-pressure hydrants, simulating firefighting scenarios. The fire department’s water delivery trucks used submersible pumps to draw water from the bay, providing a flexible water source to coordinate with aerial ladder trucks for high-rise water jetting, demonstrating robust emergency capabilities.
The exercise demonstrated San Francisco’s firefighting water supply capabilities, showcasing the ability to effectively respond to unforeseen events and ensure emergency needs are met.
Mayor Lurie stated, “As we continue to support emergency relief efforts in Southern California, we have plenty of equipment to ensure the safety of San Francisco residents in emergency situations. Our emergency services department continuously trains and conducts exercises to ensure the safety of citizens in any situation. To ensure the safety of yourself and your family, San Francisco residents are encouraged to visit SF72.org for the latest emergency measures.”
The newly appointed Fire Chief, Dean Crispen, introduced the city’s unique ability to respond to large fires, attributing it to the visionary leadership of past fire department leaders such as Dennis Sullivan, who developed the concept of the Auxiliary Water Supply System (AWSS, now EFWS) before the 1906 earthquake. Based on this vision, San Francisco has developed a powerful water surplus firefighting supply system to safeguard the city’s firefighting capabilities in emergencies.
“This advanced system includes standard pressure hydrants, high-pressure hydrants supplied by three reservoirs, two bay pump stations providing additional water sources to the EFWS when needed, five coastal fireboats further enhancing water supply capabilities, and 200 strategically located water storage tanks, along with above-ground hydrant systems supported by water delivery trucks. In the event of a catastrophic fire, these facilities can supply water to hydrants that have lost their water source.”