San Jose Fire Fighters

🚨 SAN JOSE DESERVES BETTER 🚨

In 2018, San Jose voters approved Measure T with the promise of opening new fire stations and improving public safety.

Eight years later, Fire Station 32 remains closed.

After this year’s budget process:
❌ Fire Station 32 was delayed again
❌ Two fire stations remain closed
❌ Sworn firefighter positions were eliminated
❌ Critical staffing shortages continue
❌ Emergency call volume continues to increase

San Jose already operates one of the lowest-staffed metropolitan fire departments in the nation, yet City Hall continues to delay investments in the firefighters and emergency resources our community depends on.

The voters kept their promise when they approved Measure T. Eight years later, City Hall still hasn’t kept theirs.

Firefighters aren’t just pointing out the problem—we’re fighting for solutions. Local 230 is pushing for federal SAFER grant funding and advocating in Washington, D.C. to bring millions of dollars back to San Jose to help staff fire stations and improve emergency response.

Because that’s what firefighters do. We solve problems.

Now we need our elected leaders to do the same.

Visit SafeSanJose.org to learn more and contact your elected officials.

The headlines focus on overtime earnings.

The real issue is staffing.

The San Jose Fire Department responded to more than 110,000 emergencies last year, including approximately 70,000 EMS calls. At the same time, firefighter paramedic vacancies have climbed to nearly 30%, creating one of the most significant staffing challenges our department has faced in recent history.

When a firefighter retires, promotes, takes vacation, attends training, recovers from an injury, or when a position simply remains vacant, the emergency calls don’t stop. Fire engines, truck companies, rescue medics, ARFF, USAR, and Haz Mat companies must still be staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The result is overtime.

For years, Local 230 has warned City leaders about growing staffing shortages, recruitment challenges, and retention issues. We have raised these concerns during City Council meetings, annual staffing discussions, and directly with City leadership. In February, we urged the City to increase recruitment efforts when paramedic vacancies were already at 23%. Since then, the vacancy rate has continued to grow.

The firefighters working these overtime shifts are not the cause of the problem. They are helping ensure emergency resources remain available when residents call 911.

If the City wants to reduce overtime costs, the solution is not cutting resources or reducing staffing further.

The solution is filling vacancies, improving recruitment, retaining experienced firefighters and paramedics, and making public safety a priority.

The question isn’t why firefighters are working overtime.

The question is why a city approaching one million residents continues to rely on overtime to maintain the emergency services its residents expect and deserve.

Overtime isn’t the problem.

It’s the bill that comes due when critical public safety positions remain unfilled.

– Jerry May
President, San Jose Fire Fighters Local 230

🚨 Temporary solutions have become permanent risk🚨

Today, 9 higher class captains are working in the City of San Jose.

These firefighters are stepping up to serve their community, but there are currently no formal training requirements, minimum qualifications, or assignment restrictions for these critical leadership positions.

Higher class assignments were intended to be a temporary solution to fill occasional vacancies. They were never intended to become a staffing model.

When staffing shortages persist, standards begin to erode. When standards erode, risk increases.

Leadership matters. Training matters. Standards matter.

Every firefighter deserves qualified leadership on the fireground. Every resident deserves confidence that the person making critical decisions during an emergency has received the training and preparation required for the job.

📞 Contact the Mayor and your City Councilmember.

Tell them:
✅ Invest in public safety
✅ Restore staffing levels
✅ Maintain professional standards
✅ Protect firefighters and residents

Our community deserves the best public safety—not shortcuts to save money.

FirefighterSafety CommunitySafety

🚨 SAN JOSE RESIDENTS: YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED 🚨

San Jose families were promised stronger public safety. Instead, city leaders are considering cuts that could delay emergency response, eliminate critical fire resources, and prevent the full opening of Station 32. Voters approved Measure T with the expectation that public safety infrastructure would be built and staffed to serve our growing community. (Open Station 32)

Now is the time to speak up.

📧 Contact your City Councilmember and Mayor today and tell them:

✅ Protect San Jose public safety
✅ Fully open and staff Station 32
✅ Stop cuts to fire and emergency services
✅ Keep critical emergency resources available when seconds matter

Every email, phone call, and message makes a difference.

🔥 San Jose firefighters are asking for your support. Help us ensure our city has the emergency resources needed to protect nearly one million residents. (Open Station 32)

👉 Visit safesanjose.org to learn more and contact your elected officials today.

MeasureT SanJose EverySecondCounts

In Memorium:

Having served the San José Fire Department for over 20 years, Timothy Strysko truly dedicated himself to the profession. His career in the fire service allowed him to serve in many positions – Timothy began as a firefighter, a member of the Hazardous Incident Team, and was eventually promoted to the rank of Captain at the age of 36. After valiantly fighting the illness, he lost the battle to job-related colon cancer at the age of 42. He is survived by his wife Maria and his two daughters, Samantha and Alyssa.