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I'm digging into the SF budget. It's long. 300 pages. Trying to identify where we might be spending too much.
One area I'm trying to understand is our Fire Department. We spend $409 million a year on it. That's approximately 60% what we spend on @SFPD.
(1/x)
One area I'm trying to understand is our Fire Department. We spend $409 million a year on it. That's approximately 60% what we spend on @SFPD.
(1/x)
The first thing I did was look for an annual report. Sadly the last one published is from 2013.
Okay let's start there. (2/x)
Okay let's start there. (2/x)
The report is 10 pages long. Here is the link: https://sf-fire.org/sites/default/files/FileCenter/Documents/3584-2012-2013.pdf
For those who want the TLDR, I'll share some highlights in this thread.
For those who want the TLDR, I'll share some highlights in this thread.
Page 1-5 are cover pages and list the officers/say welcome. Page 6 has some numbers on it. Here they are.
Takeaways:
+ There were *6* fires in 2013 that were 3 alarms or more.
+ 65,486 EMS transports
(Side note - I have never seen such a sparse data set in my life.)
Takeaways:
+ There were *6* fires in 2013 that were 3 alarms or more.
+ 65,486 EMS transports
(Side note - I have never seen such a sparse data set in my life.)
Page 6 shows the sources of funds. Back in 2013 they were receiving $326M, $215M of which came from SF General Budget.
I'd love to know how that number got to $409M in 7 years (25% increase). Sadly though there is no annual report since 2013.
I'd love to know how that number got to $409M in 7 years (25% increase). Sadly though there is no annual report since 2013.
Page 7 shows the fire station locations. No takeaways here.
Although, personal thought - this would be better presented on a map or in a spreadsheet...
Although, personal thought - this would be better presented on a map or in a spreadsheet...
Page 8 shows what various divisions do. This feels like a page 3 kind of page... Nothing notable here.
And the last page shows... the trucks! They look nice. It would be great to know how many of each we have. What they cost to maintain etc.
(8/x)
(8/x)
A few takeaways:
1) 76% of calls to SFFD are for EMS transports, not fires.
2) We have *very* few fires each year (~6 that are 3 alarm or more, 36 that are 2 alarm or more)
3) The fleet is mostly large trucks - which may be wasteful given nature of most calls. (9/x)
1) 76% of calls to SFFD are for EMS transports, not fires.
2) We have *very* few fires each year (~6 that are 3 alarm or more, 36 that are 2 alarm or more)
3) The fleet is mostly large trucks - which may be wasteful given nature of most calls. (9/x)
Since there was so little information I started searching the news.
What I found is not surprising.
Our Fire Dept is primarily responding to EMS calls, many from "frequent flyers".
Here are some sources I found interesting... (10/x)
What I found is not surprising.
Our Fire Dept is primarily responding to EMS calls, many from "frequent flyers".
Here are some sources I found interesting... (10/x)
This article by the NYTimes focuses quite a bit on frequent flyers. (People who are picked up 4 or more times a year).
The article says one person was picked up ~400 times in a single year. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/27/us/san-francisco-firefighters-become-unintended-safety-net-for-the-homeless.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share
The article says one person was picked up ~400 times in a single year. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/27/us/san-francisco-firefighters-become-unintended-safety-net-for-the-homeless.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share
This article quotes an EMS tech saying that ~50-75% of calls are for frequent flyers.
Some people are calling EMS quite regularly...
"In two years, 25 people have collectively called 4,291 times." https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2018/10/25/ambulance-crews-non-emergency-calls-frequent-fliers/
Some people are calling EMS quite regularly...
"In two years, 25 people have collectively called 4,291 times." https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2018/10/25/ambulance-crews-non-emergency-calls-frequent-fliers/
Is this problematic? I think so...
Apparently, our EMS system is so taxed that we are reaching "Level 0" daily. Sometimes up to 25 times per day.
Level 0 It is when we run out of ambulances. If you need one - you wait.
https://www.ktvu.com/news/911-calls-in-san-francisco-surge-leaving-ambulance-service-at-level-zero-on-a-daily-basis
Apparently, our EMS system is so taxed that we are reaching "Level 0" daily. Sometimes up to 25 times per day.
Level 0 It is when we run out of ambulances. If you need one - you wait.
https://www.ktvu.com/news/911-calls-in-san-francisco-surge-leaving-ambulance-service-at-level-zero-on-a-daily-basis
How many frequent fliers do we have today? Unclear... But in 2009 we had about 477 people in this category.
"They used $20 million worth of urgent/emergency services -- an average of $42,067 each."
Safe to assume those numbers have grown. https://www.centerforhealthjournalism.org/blogs/meet-san-franciscos-477-most-expensive-hums-high-utilizers-medical-services
"They used $20 million worth of urgent/emergency services -- an average of $42,067 each."
Safe to assume those numbers have grown. https://www.centerforhealthjournalism.org/blogs/meet-san-franciscos-477-most-expensive-hums-high-utilizers-medical-services
We are facing a $2B shortfall, and a bunch of tax measures were introduced yesterday targeted at large companies (which provide jobs and a huge % of our taxes).
If it's just ~500 people who are in this frequent flyer category, can't we find solutions for these folks?
If it's just ~500 people who are in this frequent flyer category, can't we find solutions for these folks?
Yes. We need a fleet for emergencies. We learned in 1906 the biggest threat of an earthquake is fire. Half the city burned then.
However, buildings are safer now. We have sprinklers, flame retardants, etc.
The FD is EMS, let's treat it that way. Let's account for it.
(fin)
However, buildings are safer now. We have sprinklers, flame retardants, etc.
The FD is EMS, let's treat it that way. Let's account for it.
(fin)
