San Francisco Mayor London Breed has appointed Sandra Tong as the new interim of the San Francisco Fire Department. The mayor made the decision alongside the city’s Fire Commission.

According to Mission Local, Tong is the first Asian American to lead the department, as well as the first chief with no firefighting experience. Tong will take over for former Chief Jeanine Nicholson who retired in July for health reasons.

“I am humbled by this interim appointment, and I would like to thank Mayor Breed for this opportunity,” said Tong per the San Francisco Standard. “I have the utmost faith in the current command staff and the members of this department to carry on the great work they do everyday.”

Tong has over 35 years of experience working in Emergency Medical Services. According to the San Francisco Standard, she came out of retirement in 2021 to serve as head of the San Francisco Police Department’s emergency services branch.

According to The San Francisco Chronicle, Tong is Chinese American and grew up in San Francisco’s Chinatown. The Chronicle noted that the appointment comes as Breed prepares to court voters ahead of the mayoral election this November.

“I have known Sandy for many, many years and she has consistently stepped up to the plate,” Breed said per The Chronicle. “Her intimate knowledge and understanding of the department as a whole will make her a great leader during this interim period as we move forward with the appropriate process in order to select a new chief.”

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