San Francisco fire station shakeup ordered after ‘derogatory' poster found
Sep 16, 2026
A poster mocking several San Francisco firefighters has led to a command shakeup at one of the city’s fire stations, with the department shifting four lieutenants, two captains and three battalion chiefs after the discovery.
The poster was found pinned to the wall last month at Fire Station No.
8 on Bluxome Street, according to multiple department sources with knowledge of the incident.
The poster featured photographs of several female firefighters and one male firefighter, all of whom were on leave, according to the sources. Across the top were the words, “STRESS…IT’S AN EPIDEMIC!” The bottom read, “Station 8 INVESTIGATES.”
At the center was an apparent image of a state hospital sign, with the words “CRIMINALLY INSANE” underlined and an arrow pointing toward one of the firefighters. Another firefighter on leave was mocked for having an allergy to the flame-retardant protective clothing firefighters wear, known as turnout gear.
Two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said department commanders spotted the poster on a wall in a common area during a recent visit to the station. Fire Chief Dean Crispin subsequently told a group of female firefighters that the poster was “inappropriate and derogatory,” according to department sources.
Crispin also issued a memo to firefighters warning them against workplace harassment.
“Upholding a respectful and professional environment is essential to the safety, trust, and integrity of our department,” Crispin wrote earlier this month.
The chief declined to discuss the matter, but in a statement, the department said after officials “became aware of potentially inappropriate material posted at a workplace,” they took immediate corrective action.
“The San Francisco Fire Department is committed to promoting and maintaining a safe and healthy work environment where every individual is treated with civility, dignity, and respect,” the department said.
A department official confirmed that four lieutenants, two captains and three battalion chiefs have been transferred from Station No. 8 in response to the poster.
The department said it continues to investigate who was responsible for putting up the poster. Meanwhile, none of the more than two dozen firefighters assigned to the station has been transferred, according to the department.
...read more
read less