Oakland Fire Department

Oakland Fire Department Check out the 2023 OFD Annual Report: https://shorturl.at/hkBDP

This week, Chief Covington had the pleasure of meeting with Congresswoman Lateefah Simon. The two discussed a range of i...
01/31/2025

This week, Chief Covington had the pleasure of meeting with Congresswoman Lateefah Simon. The two discussed a range of issues including our department’s ongoing capital improvement projects, the need for new firehouses and apparatus, state and federal grants, and they spent considerable time discussing the impact of our three closed firehouses. We are grateful for the time and her attention to these matters which directly impact the health, safety, preparedness and resilience of Oakland residents, our firefighters and staff.

Each Oakland firehouse is staffed by three rotating crews, and all of the members of Station 13’s Shift C are first or s...
01/29/2025

Each Oakland firehouse is staffed by three rotating crews, and all of the members of Station 13’s Shift C are first or second-generation, fully bilingual Latinos. The crew includes Lieutenant Nahel Halata, Engineer Christopher Aceves, Firefighter-Paramedic Gustavo Gonzalez, and the newest member of the group, Firefighter Efrain Vasquez.

The Oaklandside's reporter Azucena Rasilla visited Station 13 a few months ago to get to know the members of Shift C, who are also part of the Oakland Latino Firefighters Association.

Shift C at Station 13 takes pride in being bilingual, serving Fruitvale, and doing community work.

Thanks to the 300+ residents who joined the Town Hall on fire station closures. We appreciate Council Member Ramachandra...
01/17/2025

Thanks to the 300+ residents who joined the Town Hall on fire station closures. We appreciate Council Member Ramachandran and her office for organizing, and council members Zac Unger, Ken Houston & Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins for joining last night.

Oakland’s fire chief and council members spoke to fears about the temporary closures of fire stations during a town hall Thursday night.

No department could handle this alone. We're proud to join the many other firefighters and first responders which have p...
01/17/2025

No department could handle this alone. We're proud to join the many other firefighters and first responders which have provided critical resources, expertise and highly skilled personnel during this complex and tragic event in Los Angeles. Our hearts go out to the many Southern California based firefighters who lost homes and loved ones during over the last 10 days.

Both large and small departments in all nine Bay Area counties have sent crews down to LA as part of the state’s fire and rescue mutual aid system.

In May, the city approved a vegetation management plan that covers more than 1,400 acres of property and 300 miles of ro...
01/16/2025

In May, the city approved a vegetation management plan that covers more than 1,400 acres of property and 300 miles of roadside. And in November, hills residents agreed to a special wildfire prevention parcel tax that will provide an additional $3 million in funding for that vegetation management work, along with education, enhanced patrols during red flag events, and annual inspections of 26,000 properties.

We can't control mother nature, but a lot has been done to put Oakland in the good position to prevent and respond to these catastrophic scenarios.

Wet winters have delayed, not resolved, the region's forever risk. The Los Angeles firestorm is a reminder.

This location of Wednesday morning’s fire is within the First Alarm response area covered by one of the closed firehouse...
01/16/2025

This location of Wednesday morning’s fire is within the First Alarm response area covered by one of the closed firehouses, Station 28. This is obviously very concerning for the department and the surrounding community as well.

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) — A fire broke out in Oakland Hills Wednesday off of Lochard Street. Fire crews were delayed in their response time due to budget cuts and closed-down stations. KRON4 w…

Responding crews from stations 20, 26, 23 and 21 did an exceptional job preventing this fire — which had fully engulfed ...
01/16/2025

Responding crews from stations 20, 26, 23 and 21 did an exceptional job preventing this fire — which had fully engulfed the home by the time crews arrived — from reaching neighboring homes or the extensive vegetation in the immediate area.

A three-bedroom home went up in flames early Wednesday in the Oakland hills as firefighters arrived later than usual because a nearby station was closed due to budget cuts.

The Personal Emergency Preparedness class offered by OFD helps residents prepare for natural disasters such as wildfires...
01/13/2025

The Personal Emergency Preparedness class offered by OFD helps residents prepare for natural disasters such as wildfires, earthquakes, and floods; infrastructural risks like power outages and gas leaks; and human-related emergencies such as active shooters.

The city offers free emergency readiness classes.

Today, Chief Covington spoke about the role Oakland Firefighters are playing in the statewide response to the LA wildfir...
01/10/2025

Today, Chief Covington spoke about the role Oakland Firefighters are playing in the statewide response to the LA wildfires, and the risks and proactive measures the City of Oakland takes to mitigate threats in a “year-round fire season.” Watch:

We welcome back Oakland Fire Chief Damon Covington to 'The Nine' to tell us how Oakland Fire is among the agencies that have sent strike teams down south to help with the destructive Los Angeles Fires.

"There is not a station in Oakland that we can do without," said Oakland Fire Chief Damon Covington. "Our goal now is to...
01/03/2025

"There is not a station in Oakland that we can do without," said Oakland Fire Chief Damon Covington. "Our goal now is to mitigate the impact these closures will have on Oaklanders, while making sure our crews at the remaining open firehouses are not overextended by the increase in calls. We don't want these brown-outs to lead to burn out. I want residents to know they can continue to rely on Oakland Fire to respond when they call."

One station set to be closed is near Joaquin Miller Park and the other is on Grass Valley Road near Chabot Regional Park.

Thank you to all the OFD personnel - especially the firefighters and tireless fire dispatchers - who were away from thei...
12/27/2024

Thank you to all the OFD personnel - especially the firefighters and tireless fire dispatchers - who were away from their loved ones over Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. Your service and sacrifice, and that of your own family, does not go unnoticed. Amazing work this week.

A thoughtful neighbor sent the Captain at Station 4 this beautiful picture of their grandson watching Oakland firefighte...
12/25/2024

A thoughtful neighbor sent the Captain at Station 4 this beautiful picture of their grandson watching Oakland firefighters at work on 5th Ave and East 18th the morning December 23, 2024.

A working firehouse in a neighborhood provides several key benefits, including: faster emergency response times, fire prevention education, community safety initiatives, medical assistance in emergencies, disaster preparedness support, and a sense of security for residents by having readily available trained firefighters and equipment nearby; enhancing overall public safety and wellbeing within the community.

Many hands make light work. Tremendous turnout for the 2024 Oakland Black Firefighters Association holiday food basket e...
12/22/2024

Many hands make light work. Tremendous turnout for the 2024 Oakland Black Firefighters Association holiday food basket event. Thank you to organizers, and all the volunteers and community partners that make this event successful each year. Oakland needs us more than ever. We appreciate all the current and retired members of OFD and personnel from all our divisions and their families that contribute so much each holiday season that we know are challenging for so many.

Forever Oakland. One of One. Thanks for the memories, Rickey.
12/21/2024

Forever Oakland. One of One.
Thanks for the memories, Rickey.

Tomorrow is the annual Oakland Black Firefighters Association Holiday Food Basket Giveaway event. Thanks to all the dedi...
12/20/2024

Tomorrow is the annual Oakland Black Firefighters Association Holiday Food Basket Giveaway event. Thanks to all the dedicated volunteers, and current & retired members across all divisions who make it possible to feed thousands of Oaklanders during the holidays over the last 50 years!

Volunteers are welcome to come and help starting at 8AM on Saturday to unload trucks, bag and box up food for local families. If you know of families or neighbors who may need food this week, please share this event.

12/19/2024

As Fire Chief, my paramount responsibility is to safeguard the health, safety, and wellness of the dedicated members of our department, and to ensure we have the tools, resources, personnel and training to respond whenever the residents and businesses of Oakland call on us.

The City Council’s budget decision to remove two Engine companies from operation, effectively closing two firehouses for an indefinite period of time, will have a direct impact on the fire and emergency medical service (EMS) response capability we proudly provide, and Oaklanders rely on.

It is now the responsibility of my Command staff and I to make the necessary staffing and deployment decisions to shield the citizens of Oakland from the greatest level of impact, while also making sure our crews at the remaining stations are not being overextended due to an increased call volume. Our mission stays the same but the model by which we meet that standard will need to be adjusted and continuously evaluated.

As a 25 year veteran of this department, I know how incredibly resilient we are. But the challenge ahead is not one that I take lightly.

The Oakland Fire Department is currently conducting a thorough quantitative and qualitative assessment to identify the best approach to meet these service reduction requirements, and to ensure no constituency is disproportionately and inequitably impacted.

Damon Covington, Fire Chief, City of Oakland (12.18.24)

Whether you want to volunteer or know a family who could use some help and a nourishing meal this season, join us on Sat...
12/18/2024

Whether you want to volunteer or know a family who could use some help and a nourishing meal this season, join us on Saturday morning for this amazing annual event hosted by the Oakland Black Firefighters Association. Details below!

The Oaklandside visited Station 13 a few months ago to get to know the members of the C Shift, who are also part of The ...
12/13/2024

The Oaklandside visited Station 13 a few months ago to get to know the members of the C Shift, who are also part of The Oakland Latino Firefighters Association. The story that followed demonstrates the unique relationship a firehouse and its crew builds in each Oakland neighborhood, and the benefits of having a diverse department that reflects the community it serves.

Shift C at Station 13 takes pride in being bilingual, serving Fruitvale, and doing community work.

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150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 3rd Floor
Oakland, CA
94612

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