San Francisco’s New Floating Fireboat Station Set to Arrive at Pier 22½ on Thursday

Early Thursday morning, when the tides are just right, the entire structure is scheduled to be floated across the Bay and arrive at its permanent home at Pier 22½ around 2 a.m.

“This is a major milestone and exemplifies San Francisco’s commitment to creating a more resilient city,” said Mayor London N. Breed. “The new Fireboat Station 35 will improve the Fire Department's ability to meet our emergency response needs today and into the future.”

The new floating structure will rise and fall with the natural tide of the Bay, king tides and future sea level rise that is projected due to global warming. The San Francisco Fire Department's three fireboats and rescue watercraft will be moored at the new floating facility. San Francisco’s new floating fire station is thought to be the only such design in the world.

The existing firehouse is vastly undersized to meet the Fire Department’s operational needs and does not meet today’s seismic-safety standards.

The $39.9 million project is funded by the second phase of the Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response (ESER) bond, which passed with 79 percent approval of San Francisco voters in June 2014. The first phase of the bond program passed in 2010 and a third phase in 2020, both with overwhelming support.

“The Loma Prieta Earthquake, the shed fire at Pier 45 and the water rescues performed with more frequency are just a handful of examples that demonstrate the importance of Fireboat Station 35,” said San Francisco Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson. “The project will provide new and upgraded infrastructure and facilities for emergency equipment and personnel that’s needed to optimize the critical work they perform as first responders.”

The new 14,900-square-foot fireboat station will be secured by four 60-inch-diameter vertical steel pipe guide piles 150 feet long. Fire Department crews are scheduled to move in next spring after work to connect utilities, construction of a publicly accessible waterfront observation deck, installation of public art and fire station commissioning procedures are completed.

Swinerton-Power (the joint venture of Swinerton and Power Engineering Construction Co.), constructed the design-build project. Shah Kawasaki Architects provided the building design, while Liftech Consultants Inc. provided the marine design/barge. San Francisco Public Works managed the project on behalf of the San Francisco Fire Department.

“This is a project that all San Franciscans certainly can take pride in,” said Acting Public Works Director Alaric Degrafinried. “The ingenuity of the design takes into account the needs of the Fire Department and the realities of the changing climate to better serve a 21st-century urban environment and sea level rise.”

The project does not involve any alterations to the existing Fire Station 35 building, which is designated as San Francisco Landmark No. 225. The building, constructed in 1915, will be used to store equipment and from which a fire engine will be housed and deployed.

Public access to the waterfront also will be improved with the construction of an observation deck south of the historic structure and will include public art and interpretive panels related to the fireboats fire stations.

“The floating fire station is a welcome addition to the waterfront,” said Elaine Forbes, executive director of the Port of San Francisco. “Our firefighters will have a modern facility critical to emergency response and the unique design advances major efforts to make the waterfront resilient to both sea level rise and seismic risks.”