Hundreds Honor Dianne Feinstein as She Lies in State at SF City Hall | KQED

San Franciscans paid their respects starting early Wednesday morning to honor the late U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, who died last week at age 90.

Outside City Hall, a large American flag hung beside two city fire trucks.

Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson noted that as mayor, Feinstein had a special relationship with the San Francisco Fire Department.

“She loved the fire department. She carried a helmet and a turnout coat wherever she went,” Nicholson said. “She said that she called for a third alarm one time at a fire she pulled up to, and I believe it.”

Nicholson wasn’t in the department at the time, but she said, as mayor, Feinstein was pivotal in recruiting more female firefighters.

“The first five women in the fire department that came in 1987 — they were nicknamed ‘Feinstein’s finest.’”