When I was appointed Fire Chief for the City of San Antonio Fire Department, I eagerly accepted the task of leading one of the nation’s largest fire rescue departments. I believe strongly that the fire service plays an important role in the well being of our citizens. To be effective in this role, SAFD must continue to evolve as an organization— keeping up with firefighting trends, using the best technology, and finding more efficient and effective ways to provide service.

SAFD has a renewed commitment to providing emergency services at the highest level, while doing business in a more efficient manner. I have emphasized the importance of both internal and external customer service, along with a focus on training and safety for our Firefighters. My staff and I will continue to develop new ways to meet the demands of the community, while keeping the San Antonio Fire Department on the cutting edge of fire service.

The past year has been a time of change for the San Antonio Fire Department. As a sign that our city continues to grow, we opened two new fire stations and two replacement stations in 2011, and broke ground on several additional facilities that will be completed in 2012.

Fire Stations 50 and 51 opened on the South and North sides of town, respectively. Fire Station 50 was operating out of a temporary building for several years before their permanent building took shape and Fire Station 51 opened as home to the second Technical Rescue Team serving the city.

The replacements for Fire Stations 1 and 19 moved firefighters from old, small spaces into modern buildings designed to grow with the community. Fire Station 1 also added the Fire Operations Center, allowing fire and EMS shift commanders to work out of the same space.

Many initiatives introduced in 2010 saw their first full year and exceeded my expectations. The Computer Aided Dispatch system that took countless hours to install and troubleshoot managed to reduce fire and EMS response times within months of going live.

The Wellness Center also saw every firefighter and paramedic travel through its doors to participate in the Wellness Program. Annual health screenings, nutritionist consultations and expanded work-out facilities are all doing their job to ensure the continued health of our first responders.

The future continues to look bright for our citizens and our firefighters. At the close of 2011, I am proud to share this review of what we accomplished and excited for the next steps we have planned for our city.