Commemorating 130 Years of Municipal Ambulance Service

San Francisco, CA – At 10:00 am on Tuesday, March 11, Mayor Daniel Lurie will read a proclamation commemorating 130 years of municipal ambulance service in San Francisco in front of City Hall. San Francisco’s municipal ambulance service began in 1895, making it the country's first and longest continuously operating municipal ambulance service. The Department of Public Health previously oversaw the service, and in 1997, the municipal ambulance services merged with the San Francisco Fire Department, where it has continued to serve the citizens and visitors since.

Multiple events will commemorate this milestone year, including the unveiling of an EMS mural at the San Francisco Fire Department Headquarters and the production of a short documentary, History of EMS in San Francisco, which is scheduled to be released during EMS Week, May 19-25, 2025. More information on these events will be provided at a later date.

“As we celebrate the 130th anniversary of municipal ambulance services in San Francisco, we proudly  reflect on over a century of dedicated, life-saving care. The municipal ambulance service is a vital, publicly funded resource committed to delivering the highest level of care to all citizens and visitors of San Francisco, free from the influences of financial gain. We are honored to be one of the country's first and longest continuously running municipal ambulance services – a testament 

to our enduring responsibility to the community." —Chief Dean Crispen

The San Francisco municipal ambulance service began in 1895 with a single horse-drawn ambulance donated to the city. Today, it is a fully integrated division of the San Francisco Fire Department, where the services continue to evolve and expand to meet and adapt to the community’s needs in the ever-changing landscape of EMS. We are dedicated to preserving this essential service for future generations and ensuring that our legacy of providing service and care to all continues for years to come.

For 130 years, we have been here for you, are here for you, and will continue to be here for you.