San Francisco Fire Department Station 3

STATION 3!!! B-​R-​A-​V-​O!!! I LOVE what ALL fireman DO and REPRESENT!!! If it wasn’t for these BRAVE Men+WOMEN, a LOT of people would DIE in terrible fires. YES— I AM the SAME woman who wrote a SCATHING review of the paramedics who ABUSED me. I just want to make it clear that my feelings DON’T extend to THESE wonderful souls! I have personally had my life saved by the men of station 3 during a 5 alarm fire back in 1986 that occurred @ Turk+Taylor Sts. I was just PAINED to see the review where a man was Belly-​Aching about fire fighters benefits and salary. These people; FIREFIGHTERS, DESERVE– EVERY SINGLE PENNY– And, MORE!!! Screaming that it is afforded by the tax-​payer! HA-​HA. If I’m not mistaken, firefighters ARE taxpayers, TOO! CHEW ON THAT– YOU UN-​INFORMED, Goof-​Ball! Next time your house is on fire, go grab a hose!!- Sabrina R. — S.F., Ca.

This review is for the SFFD in general. Most of the pictures taken were of Station 3 in combined efforts with Station 1.
Some time in late June 2009 a fire had broke out roughly 6am in the morning in the Tenderloin district of SF. I was lucky to be there to capture some of the pictures provided.

What I saw and witness were 2 fire stations (station 3 and station 1) coming together as a team to put out a fire that had broke out on the 3^rd or 4^th floor of a multi-​story building.
Firefighters were quick to arrive to the scene. They got their hoses out and all hooked up ready to fight the fire. Other firefighters geared up with the Ax and all the necessary tools to tackle the blazing flames from inside the building, they were also all geared up for a rescue mission to help the victims trapped in the building.
Ladders raised, weapons drawn… fire out, victims rescued. I don’t think anyone was seriously hurt in this fight. This was truly a team effort to put out the fire. No one got in front of my camera hoping for a glory shot and I tried to stay out of the way of the fire fighters. A life is more important than a few pictures. I’ve gone by Station 3 and Station 1 several times… all very clean and tidy stations. Both stations are always in a ready to respond mode.
This whole SFFD team has to be 5 Stars and then some…(adding my 2 thumbs up).
Oh…also SFPD played a critical role in this also by diverting traffic away from the incident.
Cheers to the SFFD and SFPD!

The firefighters at this station work in one of the most impoverished, dangerous neighborhoods in San Francisco. They have to deal with situations where people live in historic, multi-​story apartment buildings where up to 15 family members cram into a single studio apartment. They need the big ladders and water to potentially save thousands of lives and reach children and elderly residents who may be trapped on the top floors of buildings with more than ten stories. How someone could compare the Tenderloin to Laurel Heights is beyond me– move back there if you have a problem with these heroic firefighters trying to do their grueling job.
I actually logged on to write a huge thank you to these fire fighters for participating in the community helpers unit in my kindergarten class. They took time out of their hectic job and and visited us with their wonderful fire engine to teach about fire safety and a career option that is vital to any community – I was disturbed to find a negative post. So, back to my original goal:
THANK YOU – You are the BEST!!!

Let’s get a few facts straight:
California law requires emergency lights, and sounding a siren as needed. If these guys are sounding the siren at 4AM with no vehicles in sight, I recommend you contact them directly, and if that’s unsuccessful, contact their battalion chief.
That being said, if there’s the slightest inkling that I’m going to get injured in a vehicle accident, I will step on that pedal and rev up the siren in an instant. The crew’s safety will always supersede your need to sleep. I apologize, but that is a fact. We make every effort to be courteous, but that is the only exception.
Sending engines to medical calls — absolutely appropriate. There are few ambulances in the city, but many fire engines, trucks, and rescue squads. You’re right, 500 gallons and ladders aren’t needed — but those four people onboard are. An ambulance and engine is a standard medical response across the country. The engine gets there first, assesses the patient (many SFFD engines are paramedic staffed) and then the transporting ambulance takes the pt. away, sometimes with the engine medic hopping on board.
Your comments regarding fuel consumption, wear and tear, and etc. are correct — but the job that those engines do makes up for it.
I suggest you request a ride-​a-​long at Station 3 and see what really goes on before bantering on the internet about your feelings on a topic that you haven’t personally experienced.