By Mary Frazer–
(Editor’s Note: Vice President of the San Francisco Fire Department Commission Marcy Fraser spoke these words at a Divas & Drinks series event co-presented by the San Francisco Bay Times and The Academy SF on September 26, 2024. The event, Flaming, Fabulous & 50, highlighted both the Castro Street Fair and recently retired San Francisco Fire Department Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson.)
Jeanine Nicholson is the first LGBT Chief in the 138-year history of the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD), and was appointed by Mayor London Breed. She gave over 30 years of service, the last five as Chief of the Department. To honor someone is to show respect, admiration, and affection … in public.
Many of us have had demanding jobs, with lots of long hours. But the job of the SFFD Fire Chief is not many hours; it’s all the hours! And two phones, a radio, lights and sirens. Getting into a vehicle with her was a busy ride with a variety of communication devices going off all the time.
SFFD is a large, diverse, busy, 1800-member organization. The Chief is responsible for protecting the lives and property of all San Franciscans and visitors. This includes the airport, 43 fire stations, 350–400 ambulance calls a day—that’s right, a day—in our city; plus community paramedicine, Emergency Medical Services, fighting complex fires on narrow streets and steep hills, training, protecting her people from burning toxic batteries and chemicals, and so much more.
Our city is special, our fire department is special, and, you’ll love this: even our engines have to be custom made for our hills. Regular off-the-shelf fire engines can’t handle our geography.
And, our Chief is special. Besides all of the responsibilities she had 24/7, she is held up as a representative of the LGBT community in the department and the wide world of fire departments, firefighting science, and practice across the state and country. That’s a heavy load as well.
As a former paramedic, she brought her own particular compassion to SFFD as Chief, in helping create the street crisis teams, providing services for overdoses and other street level needs and emergencies, as well as large scale events such as Pride, the Superbowl, and others.
The effect on a community of a key leader is many layered and must be appreciated. Her enlightened politics showed up in the leaders she appointed and mentored.
Chief Nicholson committed a significant amount of time and energy to new recruits, building and diversifying the department & creating opportunity for our local youth. She fully appreciates how a career with SFFD can change a life and a family’s life. At the Fire Academy graduations, her delight and connection with the young, new members was energizing to them and their families, and to all of us. She lifted up women and young lesbians and queer people.
As the leader of a diverse organization of 1800, she gave and got respect and love from her people.
I am one of five Fire Commissioners, all reluctant to see her go, but all in agreement. We wish her a robust, healthy retirement. And time. As an old hospice nurse, I learned how precious our time here is. Time away from work, time to explore, and just to live life.
We will miss her, and her humor. For all of us, I can say we are proud of and grateful to our Chief. She leaves the SFFD a better place by leaving her unique mark. She deserves our appreciation, utmost respect, and love.
Marcy Fraser is the Vice President of the San Francisco Fire Department Commission.
Flaming, Fabulous & 50!
Published on October 3, 2024
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