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Fire chiefs report quarterly calls; supervisors raise safety concerns about White Slough encampments
Summary
Interim fire chiefs told supervisors of hundreds of quarterly calls across East Vallejo, Montezuma, Suisun and Vacaville districts; boardmembers pressed staff about unsafe homeless encampments at White Slough, response coordination and use of outreach and PD escorts.
As the board convened several fire protection district quarterly meetings on Jan. 27, interim fire officials reported call volumes and development reviews while supervisors probed safety risks tied to a large encampment at White Slough.
Tim Booth of the Vallejo Fire Department, representing East Vallejo, said the district handled 130 calls last quarter, 96 of which were medical. Booth said crews saw structure and refuse fires and had at least one incident with firefighter injuries related to hazardous conditions in encampment areas.
Supervisors asked whether the county has a mitigation plan for White Slough, describing the area as a "one‑way in, one‑way out" site with occupied RVs and hazardous materials. Booth cautioned elected officials that response teams typically go with police because the area can be unsafe; he recounted past instances where deputies pursued suspects into the encampment.
Staff and supervisors said the county’s street intervention/outreach team and the SIAT (Street Intervention and Outreach Team) have recently engaged the encampment along with local nonprofit partners and the city of Vallejo’s behavioral‑health leads. Supervisor Williams asked for an organizational chart and a timeline for potential consolidation of newly formed districts; Interim Chief Jared Abruzzini said the three districts remain separate for now but an application for consolidation could result in a single organizational charter.
Vacaville’s quarterly report showed 150 calls for service, 70 medical and 10 fire incidents; boardmembers sought clarification about the category of 30 "other" calls, which staff said included lift assists and alarm responses in a larger‑population district.
No board action was required for the presentations. Supervisors requested further coordination with Vallejo city officials, requested a breakdown of Vacaville’s "other" calls and emphasized safety protocols when staff visits encampments.
