Squad 56 sounds like the name of a TV show. In truth, it is the name of a new fast-response fire-rescue program in underserved communities. The new unit is located in a house at 3034 Governor Drive in South University City. University City is the second community in San Diego to implement this program. UC was chosen by former fire chief Javier Mainar and the command senior staff. Council president Sherri Lightner, whose District 3 includes La Jolla, campaigned long and hard to get Squad 56 into the community, and Mayor Faulconer approved this program expansion. Encanto was first to host the program and opened up this fast response two-person team of firefighters in an industrial park garage with chairs and a hotplate for the 12-hour shift from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Statistically, the reduced response time improved by two minutes, according to Faulconer. Lee Swanson, spokesperson for San Diego Fire Department, related that it looks as though the response time has cut off five to six minutes.. In 2011, a consultant study said there was a great need for more fire stations in 19 San Diego communities to lend themselves to fast response time and prioritize the needs. Governor Drive was one relatively high in priority for a fire station for this 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. program. A fire captain/EMT and firefighter/paramedic make up the team. When asked if there’s a possibility the squad will be open 24 hours, Swanson said, “We keep looking at the volume of calls, what are optimal times. We will learn as we go. Added hours are on the drawing board to be considered or adapted. What works best in Encanto might not work in another neighborhood.” About 85 percent of the calls throughout the City of San Diego are medical in nature. How did Squad 56 get its number? Forty-eight stations are up and running around the City with full crews and rigs. Plans are in the works for various places, including No. 50 at Shoreline and a temporary station, 51, which is in a double-wide trailer in Skyline. So UC is named and sequentially numbered Squad 56. “Right now, we don’t have people permanently assigned for the two different crews of two firefighters who work four days on and three days off one week and three days on and four days off the next week. Cognizant of neighbors, we don’t run sirens unless we have to. Of course, there are laws that lights and sirens must be used if we are racing down the street. We realize we are not usual neighbors, but we hope to be good neighbors. Don’t be shy if you want to send us a compliment or a complaint.” The email address is [email protected]. The response from the neighbors has been supportive. Initially, this program was introduced to the community at both the UC Planning Group and UC Community Association meetings in December of 2015. At the end of January, the first teams to move into the Governor home arrived. The fire truck with “Squad 56” on it has drawn lots of attention and appreciation from the community. As former Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd said: “Firefighters are indispensable footsoldiers here at home.”