Dude! I'll try and make this short. I was at the Federal Building a few blocks away having possibly signs of a stroke (it wasn't and I'm fine). They were called and arrived shortly after...ahhh quick. Two paramedics first and then a cavalry of firefighters all with intent to help. They get me to the ambulance and hook me up, asking a bunch of questions all the while making me as relaxed and calm as I could be...perfect. Their professionalism was showing all the while. The driver had a good time with the lights and sirens, not needed but why not. Arrived at the hospital and they made sure I was placed in good hands with a seamless transition. Much appreciated. After my release from the hospital I was walking back to my car and unexpectedly walked by their firehouse. I stopped to wait for them to back up their fire engine and one of the fireman recognized me from the morning. He came out and asked me how I was doing. He didn't have to do that but he did! That's straight kindness. Last words...God bless you all at Station 3. read more

Showing sum love.. my Mah really appreciates your service and so do I.. wish I could have seen u guys growing up.. tossing a football back n forth.. got stuck in alameda cuz it's "safe" ;-)) read more

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 3rd or 4th 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!! read more

See all

I went there to see if they could help me get my ring cut off because it was stuck and I couldn't get it off my finger. I wasn't sure if they were going to help me with something like this, but before I knew it, I was surrounded by a group of lovely firemen helping me out (I thought I died and went to Heaven) and they even let me use their restroom to wash my hands. Thank you, lovely firemen! read more

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!!! read more

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. read more

I went there for a school project and right when I told them about it, they did everything they could to make my project amazing! They drove me with lights and sirens, they staged an emergency call for me, lots more stuff. Thank you so much SFFD. My project turned out amazing. read more

Jesse and Cheval, you are both ignorant and writing about something you know nothing about. Here is the deal: San Francisco Engine 3 is the BUSIEST fire engine in the entire country, running about 7,300 calls a year. That's like 20 a day. Is that the Fire Department's fault? Nope, it's the people who call who are to blame. Yes, most of the calls are medicals. There are more fire engines than ambulances, so the fire engine has to respond, usually gets to the scene first, and starts medical care. Send quiet little medical vehicles, you say? Not in this day and age. What if the fire engine coming back from a medical gets dispatched to a fire? Should they race back to the station, try to switch out rigs, and make it to the scene in time? By then, the fire would be too big. You can respond to EVERY emergency with a fire engine, using separate vehicles is actually more wasteful. As for the noise.....I'm sorry, you can thank the lawyers and the people who drive while on their cellphones for that. If we hit someone and that siren wasn't on, the Department gets sued, and the rig driver fired. No one pays attention or tries to move out of our way anymore, so we have to have all kinds of flashing lights and the loudest sirens to try and get to emergencies. Here's a thought........maybe if people did what they were supposed to do (Didn't use 911 as their primary healthcare provider) and drove better, then maybe we wouldn't be screaming around the city all the time. It's not like we enjoy waking everyone up, or do it for fun. We have a serious job to do. Oftentimes we get wrong info from the calling party, so we have to send the cavalry to err on the side of safety, and not get sued. If people would use some common sense, we would be out the door a lot less. read more

For all the good I'm sure it does, Fire Station No. 3 is the reason I will be apartment searching a year from now. I just signed a lease in what you might call a colorful (sketchy but up-and-coming) neighborhood. Mixed in with great restaurants and hip clubs, there's also a pot dispensary across the street, porn stores and smoke shops. You can't throw an empty liquor bottle without hitting either a homeless person or a tranny prostitute. All this, I take in stride, embrace it even. What I can't endure the constant, insufferable screaming sirens and horns blaring at least eight or nine times a day. (And I live three floors above street level.) I understand that if someone calls 9-1-1 even for a sprained ankle, the SF Fire Dept. is required to dispatch a firetruck. My resident manager told me (after signing the least of course) that it's the busiest fire station in the U.S. Whether or not that's true, and I tend to believe it is, there ought to be a way to reallocate resources so that non-fire emergencies prompt a first-alert firetruck response from elsewhere nearby. Share the misery a little! Think twice before moving into a street-facing apartment on Post Street between Polk and Leavenworth. Four in the afternoon or four in the morning, it doesn't matter to these guys. "Just doing our job" is their mentality. When I asked if there were simple things they would consider, (like not going full sirens after 3 a.m. when there's no traffic anywhere) the chief on duty just shrugged. "Sorry, man. We're here for a reason." Point taken. But that doesn't mean you have to be here... read more

My father worked at station 3 for nearly ten years of his career. I also just finished going through the daily logs of this station and I can assure you, station 3 is one of the busiest stations in the city. At 30 to 40 calls per day. To think that these brave men protecting this great city might have to deal with someone being irritated about hearing sirens at 4 am makes me sad and a bit mad. Sirens in the tenderloin are low on the list of things to be worried or complaining about. Sirens are not only to warn people driving cars but pedestrians as well. My Dad was a driver on the engine at 3 and anything he could do, sirens at 4 am with no "need" included. It's not only about keeping the public safe, it's also about keeping the firefighters safe as well. read more

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. read more

Good Afternoon. My Name Is Ed Im From NYC. I am a fire alarm dispatcher for the FDNY serving The Boro Of Manhattan as a career as well as an 8 year member of a volunteer fire department on long island. My department is relativly busy producing over 2000 alarm responses per year. The reason i tell you all this is that new yorkers as constantly known as complainers with bad attitudes. well i hope the two of you are the minority in san fransico because in my years of service both in the city and on long island i have never heard of such a child like complaint .you say the fire department should worry about sleeping children? what about the child waking up to a room filled with smoke or waking up in the midst of an asmtha attack. Instead of complaining online walk accross the street with a cake and a thank you and try to take the time to understand why they do what they do. I am sure you two are the same civilians who when a drunk stumbles in front of the rig with no siren engaed would be screaming for the officers job for unsafe operations. I am sure you will have a different appreciation for those sirens when they are coming to save your ass. TO THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE SFFD...KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE EXCELLENT SERVICE YOU HAVE...STAY LOW AND STAY SAFE read more