ANTHONY STEFANI started with the San Francisco Fire Department in 1974. The 28-year veteran retired as the captain of Rescue 1 in 2003. He has an associate's degree in fire science, is a blackmask certified diver and holds a number of technical rescue certifications, including surf and cliff rescue and served as an instructor for Rescue Systems I and II. After being diagnosed with Transitional Cell Carcinoma in 2001, he founded the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation and now serves as president.