FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 2, 2014 

Contact: Rachel Gordon, 415-554-6045

OLDEST ACTIVE SAN FRANCISCO FIREHOUSE REOPENS AFTER OVERHAUL 

Earthquake bond funds $1 million upgrades to 100-year-old Fire Station #44

SAN FRANCISCO, CA. – The San Francisco Fire Department and San Francisco Public Works announced today that Neighborhood Fire Station #44 reopened this week after a $1 million comprehensive renovation and upgrade to the facility that began in the fall of 2013. The station, at 1298 Girard in the Visitacion Valley, was built in 1913 and is the oldest still-active firehouse in the City.

“Our Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response program is working to save lives, save money and improve our City’s recovery efforts. Its successes are the direct result of the confidence that San Francisco voters have shown in making these important infrastructure investments in our public safety,” said Mayor Ed Lee. “Without raising taxes, this program is restoring, rehabilitating and modernizing our historic firefighting facilities, including our celebrated 100-year-old Fire Station #44. We are preserving San Francisco’s past and preparing our diverse neighborhoods for the future.”

The project, funded by the 2010 Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response bond, temporarily shut down the station for about seven months while improvements were made. Station #44 personnel temporarily relocated to the nearby Fire Station #42 on San Bruno Avenue and now are back in their firehouse.

“The rehabilitation of this firehouse is a critically important investment in our Southeastern neighborhoods." said District 10 Supervisor Malia Cohen, who represents the community that the firehouse serves. "Our residents deserve state of the art infrastructure in addition to the commitment of dedicated men and women of the Fire Department who work every day to protect our communities."

Work at the station included a new roof, new windows, waterproofing, brick work – including challenging, meticulous restoration to maintain the integrity of the historic façade – and other enhancements to modernize the station and ensure the highest levels of health, safety and readiness for first responders and fire station personnel.

“This neighborhood has grown and expanded since the time this firehouse was built, and its rehabilitation and the seismic upgrades to all of the City’s firehouses are vital for our firefighters to protect lives, and safeguard families, homes and schools,” said San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White. “Thanks to the support of San Francisco voters who champion emergency response investments, we can ensure that our firehouses and public safety facilities are seismically sound so that our first responders can quickly respond in that crucial early window for fires, emergencies and even after a major disaster.”

Built in 1913, and officially opened in 1915, Fire Station #44 was commissioned at a time when the City was fortifying its neighborhood firefighting infrastructure, building new firehouses, adding to the underground auxiliary backup water supply system, and motorizing much of its engine and ladder company. In 1915, the Fire Department responded to 2,700 fires, used the backup, high-pressure water system 14 times, and had 40 horse-drawn steam fire engines and 10 horse-drawn hook and ladder trucks. The same year, the Fire Department spent $4,700 on horse-shoeing.

Fire Station #44 was previously the recipient of efforts to upgrade neighborhood firehouses with a 1952 bond act that provided $4.75 million for the construction and rehabilitation of firehouses throughout San Francisco.

“The Public Works-managed earthquake safety bond program is upgrading half of the City’s firehouses and station #44 is an excellent example of this important work,” said Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru. “Working closely with the Fire Department, these neighborhood fire station improvement projects emphasize the success of the voter-approved ESER bond, the City’s capital plan, the good work of our firefighting staff, and the efficient project management of these vital upgrades delivering these projects on time and on budget.”

Selection of neighborhood fire stations and improvements are based on assuring continuous fire protection coverage for the nearby community, prioritization of emergency response, maximizing the effectiveness of the construction funds, and limiting disruption to Fire Department operations during the project.

SFFD Station #44 is one of 42 firehouses across the city operating to serve San Francisco neighborhoods. It currently houses 16 Fire Department staffers, has one engine and mini-pumper, and responds to over 2,100 emergency calls each year, of the Fire Department’s 120,000 calls annually.

The Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response program (ESER) pays for repairs and improvements that will allow San Francisco to quickly respond to a major earthquake or disaster. The ESER bond was approved by voters in June 2010 and is actively making improvements to neighborhood firehouses, upgrading the emergency firefighting water system and constructing the City's new Public Safety Building.

More info can be found at sfearthquakesafety.org.