K9-Team

The San Francisco Fire Department has 3 K9 groups, Search and Rescue, Facility, and Detection/tracking. All the canines are paired with a handler forming a team.

The San Francisco Fire Department currently has 4 Canine Search Teams that are part of California Task Force 3, one of the 28 Federal Urban Search and Rescue Teams. The FEMA USAR teams respond to disaster and terrorism events throughout the country and the world. These trained canines were provided to the Fire Department at no cost to taxpayers by the private, non-profit Search Dog Foundation.

Additionally, we have 2 Facility canines. These trained canines were provided to the Fire Department at no cost to taxpayers by the private, non-profit Thors Hope Foundation. Their job is to help firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and other first responders unwind and destress from their job demands as first responders.

The Department also has a Detection and tracking canine assigned to the Public Information and Liaison Office. The team's role is to ensure a safe workplace and assist in locating people lost in rural settings, such as parks and trails.

Help Us Do More!

Make a tax deductible donation to the SFFD to strengthen our K9 Team's Community Response and Recovery Initiatives. The SFFD as part of the City and County of San Francisco can accept tax-deductible monetary contributions for the department's efforts to provide emergency assistance to individuals, families, small businesses, and nonprofits in San Francisco. Click here to learn more about supporting the San Francisco Fire Department. You may also email firedonations@sfgov.org or call our donation coordinator at 415-558-3553 with any questions.