CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
DATE: April 29, 2025
TO: Mayor Eddie, Vice Mayor Addiego, and Councilmembers FROM: Jake Gilchrist, Director of Capital Projects and Matt Samson, Fire Chief SUBJECT: Memorandum Regarding Replacement of Fire Station 63
BACKGROUND
The original Fire Station 63 opened in 1950 in response to the growth and development westwardly as the City increased its residential housing stock, creating the neighborhoods of Buri Buri, Sierra Highlands, and Brentwood. The City’s third fire station opened as a substation at 1165 El Camino Real and housed two firefighters until 1957 when daily station staffing was increased to three firefighters to meet an increasing call volume due to residential development. The building served as Fire Station 63 until the late 1970s when it moved, along with Fire Administration, into the newly purchased Municipal Services Building (MSB). It remains standing and functioning today as a preschool, retaining its flagpole and traditional red lights on either side of its garage (shown below).
Prior to the MSB move, space constraints were quickly identified with the addition of the third firefighter and need to store reserve apparatus, additional tools, equipment, and disaster supplies. This same space constraint was also occurring at Central Fire Station - 201 Baden Avenue. To address the Fire Department’s need for additional space, as well as the Police Department’s need for a more suitable facility than 315 Maple Avenue, a public safety bond measure was placed on the June 1974 ballot to finance the construction of an 81,000 square foot public safety complex at Grand Avenue and Chestnut Avenue. The proposed complex would have housed Fire Station 63, Fire Administration, and the Police Department. The bond measure narrowly failed, and City Council then attempted to move forward with a bond sale to finance the project. This effort was immediately met with a lawsuit and the bond sale was rescinded.
In response to the need for additional space for the City’s Public Safety Departments, Fire Station 63, Fire Administration, and the Police Department were relocated to the newly acquired Value Giant Department Store that quickly became the MSB. While the office space for Fire Administration provided an adequate Memo to Council – FS 63
April 29, 2025
working environment, the repurposed vehicle service shop where Station 63 was relocated to presented significant operational constraints, including apparatus height restrictions. This location was presented as temporary while a permanent and more adequately sized location could be identified. Initially, storage was not an issue, but this changed in 1997 with the addition of a second paramedic ambulance placed into service. This ambulance is assigned to Station 63 and is staffed with two paramedic firefighters, increasing the staffing for Station 63 from three to five.
As the building was not designed as a fire station, efforts were made to provide the functionality needed for continuous occupancy. With space at a premium, areas of the building were undersized, including the office, bathrooms, and equipment storage. The apparatus bay height was much lower than other fire stations, as it was not designed for large commercial vehicles. Fire engines were modified to avoid colliding with the station’s exterior when backing into the apparatus bay. Even as the station’s space was maximized, it was not able to support future needs, such as:
• Gender specific restrooms
• Individual sleeping rooms
• Specialized washing machines to launder firefighting coats and pants • Dedicated storage for personnel protective equipment
• Adequately sized in-station exercise area
• Storage for medical and firefighting equipment
• Modern (and taller) fire engines
• Drive-through apparatus bays
• Publicly accessible bathroom
The new location did provide an operational benefit by remaining in the same general location as the original fire station. Fire station locations in South San Francisco remain strategically located to provide equitable coverage city-wide. This is measured by response times and maintaining Fire Station 63 in its general location allows for appropriate coverage in the Buri Buri, Sierra Highlands, and Winston Manor neighborhoods, as well as the areas adjacent to both El Camino and Baden High Schools.
Fire Station 63’s operational constraints were identified in the early 1990s and attempts to address them had fallen short due to financial constraints and the need to perform a complete remodel of the building to modernize the facility to a level that supported current and future functionality. The operational constraints fell into four general categories:
1. Seismic stability of the fire station and adjoining components of the MSB
2. Size/Space/Functionality
3. Support Systems (HVAC, Water, Emergency Generator)
4. Health of living space
The fire station was susceptible to damage and possible collapse after a seismic event based on its age and building construction type. Structural engineers identified the risk of ceiling collapse and exterior wall collapse resulting from a significant seismic event. The vulnerability focused on the building’s exterior wall design, specifically at the attachment points of the walls to the roof, and the design of the ceiling throughout the fire station. Damage to these areas could have prevented personnel from moving the engine and ambulance out of the apparatus bay and potentially trapping firefighters inside the living quarters.
Memo to Council – FS 63
April 29, 2025
The limited station footprint does not meet the needs and requirements of a modern fire station. The station’s garage consists of two single deep bays that can only house two vehicles (one engine and one ambulance). This limitation prohibits the storage of additional apparatus at Fire Station 63, requiring other fire stations to house all reserve and support vehicles. With finite storage at the other four fire stations, numerous (2 engines, 2 ambulances, 3 support vehicles) vehicles are stored outside and deteriorate at a faster rate due to weather exposure. The apparatus bay design requires both assigned units to back into the station in an area that is constrained by access and a narrow alley dock.
With the addition of two paramedic firefighters daily, space at the station became more limited. This constraint was compounded by the need for a dedicated classroom style space to provide department training. Fire Station 63 had a room that could facilitate classroom training but was in use as the exercise area. The exercise area was removed to create a dedicated training space and Fire Department staff partnered with Police Department staff to share their exercise facility in the police station.
The original bathroom design created an open space without the ability to maintain privacy. The two showers were directly across from each other and one common locker room was adjacent. This design did not provide for gender specific areas and could not support cohabitation of female and male firefighters.
The station’s sleeping area was also common with six-foot dividers between the beds, without doors and the ability to maintain privacy while sleeping or changing clothing. Office space was also limited and only provided workspace for two of the five crew members. With the increase in reporting requirements and online training, two workspaces impacted the ability of crews to complete assignments and reports in a timely manner.
Like the space limitations for storage of reserve apparatus and support vehicles, the ability to store additional medical and firefighting equipment, including specialized support equipment, was minimal at best. Medical supplies and personal protective equipment were stored in the apparatus bay, continuously exposed to vehicle exhaust and the outdoor environment. No additional equipment, such as reserve fire hose, reserve ladders, and power tools could be stored at Fire Station 63 due to lack of space. This further stressed our other four stations’ storage capacity, already taxed with supporting equipment such as specialized personal protective equipment washing machines and dryers and refilling systems for selfcontained breathing apparatus bottles.
As part of the MSB, Fire Station 63 was completely dependent on the building’s mechanical systems to operate. This includes Heating and Ventilation (HVAC), hot water, and emergency generator power supply.
As critical infrastructure, the Fire Station must be able to maintain these services during a disaster that has resulted in interruption of utilities. Maintaining an MSB-wide mechanical system is more complicated than a system(s) specific to the fire station. When upgrades or replacements are needed, the cost and complication are further compounded.
The station has remained in operation at its current location since 1979, closing twice for unhealthy living conditions and a third time for both unhealthy living conditions and to facilitate its remodel in 2010. The living quarters experienced chronic water intrusion from the exterior planter boxes along Arroyo Drive, the lexan windows lining the front of the fire station, and in 2005 from a faulty holding cell toilet located above the classroom. The water leak from the toilet caused the ceiling and ventilation system in the rear classroom to fall in. The station was uninhabitable for four months to facilitate water damage repairs, carpet replacement, repaint walls, drywall damage, and equipment damage. Mold was also identified and Memo to Council – FS 63
April 29, 2025
remediation work was completed prior to reoccupying the station. Both assigned units were relocated to fire stations 64 and 65 while the station was closed.
An additional chronic health issue, that resulted in a prolonged station closure in 2007, was the intrusion of carbon monoxide from the police parking area into the fire station at numerous locations. Mold concerns were also brought up, but numerous professional tests were completed by third party consultants that did not identify hazardous levels in the living spaces. Both assigned units were again dispersed to fire stations 64 and 65 while repair work was completed to prohibit carbon monoxide infiltration into the station. When these units were relocated, response times into the core coverage areas of Fire Station were increased up to three minutes. The relocation also negatively impacted station 61 and 65’s reliability as Engine 63 was out of position to support those two districts. As an added layer of safety, multiple commercial grade air filters were installed in the station’s living areas that operated continuously to lower carbon monoxide levels and filter any potential air contaminants.
In late 2009, the station was again vacated due to health concerns regarding air quality from both mold and carbon monoxide. At the same time, the department was notified of a grant award to rehabilitate the fire station and construction would begin in 2010. The decision was made to vacate the station in advance of the construction work and crews returned in November of 2012 once the remodel work was complete.
GRANT FUNDED REMODEL 2010
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded fire station remodel and construction grants to fire departments throughout the United States. Approximately 150 departments were awarded with South San Francisco receiving one of them. The grant parameters were specific for remodel projects and did not allow for work to be performed outside of the original building’s footprint. This restriction prohibited us from using funding to rehabilitate other areas of the MSB, including seismic work outside of the fire station’s footprint.
The ARRA grant provided critical funding needed to rehabilitate, modernize, seismically stabilize, and remediate the building to allow for continuous use as a fire station. Without this funding, the life span of Fire Station 63 was unclear due to the frequency of recent closures for health reasons. This is in addition to a seismic event that could have caused significant damage to the building and harmed firefighters and their apparatus. The intention of submitting an application was to secure funding to address these concerns, as well as provide funding to address modernization challenges prohibiting us from providing a femalefriendly working environment. This was done to maintain a functional firehouse, capable of operating for the foreseeable future, while an appropriate and permanent replacement could be identified and constructed.
The ARRA grant funded critical seismic upgrades to the fire station’s ceiling, exterior walls, and apparatus bay. Based on the MSB’s age, it was recommended, through a seismic study, to further expand the seismic retrofit work to capture a much larger portion of the MSB as it would provide additional protection for the station and surrounding areas. Due to the grant’s restrictions, this was not possible, as work outside of the station’s footprint was not allowable. The work performed did strengthen the apparatus bay and provided a much higher level of protection with the intent of accessing the engine and ambulance post-earthquake. The work also allowed for a raised apparatus bay ceiling, providing access for any of our department’s engines and ambulances.
Memo to Council – FS 63
April 29, 2025
Working within the constrained building footprint, the remodel efforts were able to address some of the fire station’s significant operational challenges. In addition to the seismic work and apparatus bay height work, benefits from the grant included:
• The carbon monoxide intrusion was addressed through the repair work performed on the station wall separating the MSB underground parking garage.
• The lexan windows were replaced with glass, eliminating the water intrusion into the living space during rainstorms.
• Five individual bedrooms were created.
• Two full bathrooms replaced the one large, or common, bathroom. • A second office was created to allow for three additional workspaces as well as a dedicated captain’s office.
• Dedicated personal protective equipment storage with adequate air circulation and protection from apparatus bay exhaust.
• Dedicated medical equipment storage with adequate air circulation and protection from apparatus bay exhaust.
• Dedicated, publicly accessible bathroom.
• Space for specialized washing equipment to launder personal protective equipment. • Dedicated area to clean medical equipment exposed to biohazards.
These additions provided an immediate benefit and allowed the department to reoccupy the station and support a modern workforce. The remodel work provided for a healthy work environment but did not address many of the underlying operational constraints needed to meet current and future demands. The ARRA funding essentially bought the department time, allowing us to continue operating Fire Station 63 in its current location, while an appropriate and permanent replacement could be identified and constructed. Critical items that were unable to be addressed with the grant funding, and continue to restrict us today, include:
• Adequate apparatus storage to allow for in-station parking of two reserve apparatus. • Creation of a decontamination corridor that greatly reduces hazardous materials from entering into the fire station’s living area.
• Storage to support additional firefighting equipment, disaster supplies, and surplus food and water. • Drive-through apparatus bays to eliminate backing vehicles into a tight alley dock and then into a station.
• Dedicated in-station exercise area.
• Support for additional firefighters as the station supports paramedic trainees, newly hired firefighter paramedics who are under evaluation, and upstaffing during periods of high call volume or largescale disasters. • Sleeping quarters with two exit options (remodeled station, due to size constraints, does not allow for windows in the dorms).
• Space for SCBA filling equipment.
• Future regulatory requirements for equipment, standards, and practices.
With the grant restriction for funds limited to the building’s footprint, we were also unable to address the need to separate the supporting systems from the MSB. The station remains dependent on the MSB’s HVAC and water heater systems as well as its emergency generator. The later item will need to be replaced soon due to its age, failure rate, and difficulty in sourcing parts when needed for repair.
Memo to Council – FS 63
April 29, 2025
FIRE STATION COMPARISON – South San Francisco and Recent Local Fire Station Builds
Fire Station 63 is one of five fire stations in South San Francisco. A map identifying all five fire stations in South San Francisco is shown below with Station 63 circled in red:
While each station operates somewhat independently on emergency responses, they all provide support for the department’s overall operations. Each of the five, less Fire Station 63, is able to support various aspects of the department’s mission. An example of this is the housing of our Urban Search and Rescue Vehicle at Fire Station 65. That station is responsible for the vehicle, its equipment, and response. Due to its size and storage constraints, Fire Station 63 is unable to support in the same way as the other four stations, adding additional stress to them. For comparison, square footage per assigned personnel for each of the department’s five fire stations shows the constraints we experience with Fire Station 63:
Memo to Council – FS 63
April 29, 2025
For further comparison, recently constructed fire stations throughout the Bay Area were evaluated to determine if the current size of Fire Station 63 was adequate based on other fire agencies’ specifications. These fire stations house three firefighters and the chart has not been altered to show square footage by personnel, just total overall size:
OPERATIONAL IMPACT – FIRE STATION 63
Fire Station 63 provides first due response to the Northern El Camino Real Corridor from the Colma/Daly City border down to South Spruce Avenue. Its full primary response area is shown below in green:
Memo to Council – FS 63
April 29, 2025
This station is regularly the busiest in South San Francisco. This trend has not changed, even with the growth occurring along the Eastern side of the City. Call volume regularly exceeds 3,000 incidents between the units assigned, Engine 63 and Rescue 63. This level of call volume places additional stress on the station, something that can be reduced with a facility that can adequately support this level of demand. The map below shows 12 months (from calendar year 2024) of call data and location in South San Francisco as displayed in a “heat-map” format. The two areas of high call concentration along the Westborough and El Camino Real corridors drive the demand for Fire Station 63:
CURRENT STATUS - Fire Station 63 Replacement
The need to identify a more appropriate Fire Station 63 has been studied numerous times beginning in 1991 as the current location was never intended as a long-term solution for the facility. Geographically, the station is well positioned as its current location is located on the Westside of El Camino Real. A majority of the calls occurring in Fire Station 63’s district are West of El Camino Real, significantly reducing the number of occurrences when responding apparatus cross one of the busiest streets and intersections in South San Francisco. This reduces response times into the Buri Buri, Sierra Highlands, and Winston Manor neighborhoods.
From these efforts, a viable new location was identified, directly across from the current fire station’s driveway. The property at 71 Camaritas Avenue provides ample size to house an adequate fire station. While it does come with some site restrictions, due diligence was performed, including architecturally generated conceptual drawings, to confirm that the site is able to offer ample programmatic space to meet the department’s current and future needs. The property was purchased by the City and remains available when funding is allocated to start construction of the replacement fire station. Monies allocated from a developer agreement have also been set aside to offset construction costs. Currently, nine million dollars has been collected from a developer with the possibility of additional funding should additional development occur.
An additional benefit of constructing Fire Station 63’s replacement at 71 Camaritas Avenue includes the ability to maintain the current fire station while the new facility is built. As call volume has increased, Memo to Council – FS 63
April 29, 2025
relocating both the engine and ambulance assigned to Fire Station 63 would have a negative impact on response times for an extended amount of time due to construction timelines. We would anticipate an increase in response times of three minutes within the core of Fire Station 63’s primary response area. To address the increase in response times, it would be prudent to provide temporary quarters for the station in close proximity to its current location. Temporary quarters would add additional costs to the project and would be required for one to two years based on the amount of work need to rehabilitate, modernize, and expand the station in its current location. Rehabilitation work would still not be able to address the apparatus storage issues.
In 2018, as part of the overall Community Civic Campus planning, staff completed a design development package for Fire Station 63 and then paused the project to develop a funding strategy for construction. At the time, the site for Station 63 was imagined to be the northwest corner of the MSB property at Camaritas Avenue and Arroyo Drive. In late 2020, staff learned that the property across the street at 71 Camaritas Avenue was on the market. While Economic and Community Development staff negotiated with the property owner, the Capital Projects team worked with the Fire Station architects to confirm that the 71 Camaritas site was an appropriate location, including an Engineering Review with the SF Public Utilities Commission, which holds an easement on the back side of the property. City Council approved the purchase of 71 Camaritas Avenue at the July 28, 2021 meeting.
Currently, planning and design for Fire Station 63 is poised to restart this Spring. The project is expected to cost in excess of $36 million due to inflation and current market volatility created by the recent implementation of new trade tariffs. Staff expects to advertise the construction project for bid in Summer 2026 and construction will take approximately 2 years, with the move into the new Station 63 at 71 Camaritas Avenue to be completed by the end of 2028.
Attachment 2 Seismic Study: Biggs Cardosa Associates Structural Engineers Report dated 4.29.10