Frankie is a cartoon figure, created by Dr. Marc Goldyne, representing the S.F.F.D. portable hydrant. He is named after Assistant Chief Frank Blackburn (ret.), S.F.F.D. who designed the portable hydrant system (PWSS) in the 1980's prior to the Loma Prieta earthquake.

Frankie takes a swim in S.F. Bay

One day, in the summer of 2009, (ret.) Marine Engineer, Dennis Kennedy, was taking friends for a ride along S.F. bay on his fishing boat, Thor. He called Station 35 (S.F.F.D.) and asked one of the crew to bring "Frankie" (the resident anthropomorphized portable hydrant from the children's book, Frankie & The Phoenix) outside to the end of the pier.

Dennis wanted the children on board to see “Frankie” as they headed towards the Bay Bridge. Everyone was delighted as “Frankie” greeted the visitors, who learned about the portable hydrant system and how it can supply water above ground to fight fires, as it did with the fireboat, Phoenix, after the quake of 1989, saving the Marina district. Dusk came and “Frankie” was left outside, forgotten. During the night a stiff wind knocked him into the bay. “Frankie” floated with the currents and by the next day he was upside down, close to drowning, near the Ferry Building, when he was spotted by a firefighter on Engine 8 driving along the Embarcadero. The firefighters on the rig quickly pulled “Frankie” out of the water just in time. "Frankie" had to be repaired by his creator, Dr. Marc Goldyne, who also happens to be a real doctor.
Frankie is now recovered from his injuries and ready for his duties as mascot for the twentieth anniversary, Oct. 17th, 2009, of the quake of 1989. This is a true story!