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Richmond Fire Department launches peak-season readiness and conducts neighborhood evacuation drill
Summary
Fire Chief Aron Osorio reported May response trends, described a six-acre wind-driven fire that required mutual aid, and said a multi-agency evacuation drill engaged about 275 registrants and 83 vehicles to test incident command and public-warning systems ahead of peak fire season.
Aron Osorio, fire chief for the Richmond Fire Department, told the neighborhood council on June 8 that the department has moved into peak wildfire-season preparedness and that recent activity and training reflect the shift.
Osorio said May included multiple working structure fires, 12 vegetation fires, 42 encampment fires, 15 vehicle fires and about 635 medical incidents. He described a wind-driven, roughly six-acre fire near a refinery property in late May that required mutual aid from regional partners including Confire and East Bay Regional Parks, and noted that city and partner crews contained the blaze.
The department activated a coordinated preparedness campaign and completed readiness drills and refresher training in May. Chief Osorio described a large evacuation drill held the weekend before the meeting: 275 people registered for the exercise, 83 vehicles reported to a collection point at the Hilltop Mall parking lot, and 13 partner agencies participated to exercise incident command, public-warning interoperability and public-facing outreach.
Osorio also said the fire department mailed defensible-space notifications beginning May 25 to roughly 15,600 parcels in very-high-severity zones; inspections by fire-prevention staff and engine companies are scheduled to begin June 21. The mailer includes QR codes with compliance guidance.
Attendees asked about rebuilding Station 66; Osorio said the plan is to rebuild on the existing parcel and, during construction, staff would likely use the departments training grounds for a temporary station if needed.
The chief urged residents to heed public-warning messages during incidents and to participate in preparedness activities; he said the city will increase wildfire-awareness messaging on electronic boards and continue coordinated readiness with county and state partners.
