Fire Chief Tim Citro led a public tour of Eureka’s Fire Station 1 and described the station’s staffing, emergency capabilities and community services.

Citro said the department staffs three 48‑hour shifts to provide 24/7 coverage and that a minimum of four firefighters are on duty at Station 1 each day, with other stations maintaining a minimum of three. "We work 48 hour shifts," Citro said. "We have 3 shifts that work 48 hours to 24 7 coverage. There's a minimum of 4 firefighters on duty here every day."

Citro said the department places paramedic‑level personnel on fire engines and described the department as "the only fire department north of Santa Rosa that offers paramedic services." He said the station houses a ladder truck company and a battalion chief on duty around the clock.

He outlined a range of duties beyond firefighting, including hazardous‑materials response, water rescue, urban search and rescue for technical rescue after earthquakes or building collapses, and medical transfers. "We do hazardous materials, water rescue. ... We have an urban search and rescue team for technical rescue," Citro said.

The chief emphasized daily fitness and annual medical testing for crews. "We're required ... our firefighters do an hour about physical fitness every day," Citro said, adding that annual physicals and fitness screening have identified underlying cardiac issues in some firefighters.

Citro also described changes to gear handling: turnout gear is laundered at stations and is no longer stored by crew beds because it is "highly contaminated," he said. He noted the department provides community services at the front office, including CPR classes, "Stop the Bleed" training and car‑seat inspections.

The station tour included practical demonstrations and an explanation of alarm procedures; Citro explained that crew members may have as little as about a minute to respond when alarms occur. He described administrative hours for public business as Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The presentation combined operational details and community outreach information intended to familiarize visitors with station functions and the department’s emergency capabilities.