BRANCHES & DIVISIONS

General Overview

The Alameda County Fire Department is comprised of four organizational branches that meet the operational, special operations and communication, administrative support service, and fire prevention needs of the Department. The Fire Chief provides overall leadership and is responsible for the effective management, coordination, and service delivery of all aspects of the Department. The Deputy Fire Chiefs, Fire Marshal and Administrative Services Director oversee their respective organizational branches ensuring the overall day-to-day readiness of all aspects of the organization.

Operations Branch

The Operations branch is responsible for emergency response and incident mitigation for fires, medical emergencies, hazardous materials, urban search, rescue, and other emergencies. The Operations Branch is charged with ensuring that personnel meet established training guidelines so that the Department is capable of meeting any emergency response challenge. The Operations Branch is also responsible for the management of the Reserve Program which provides a cadre of individuals who volunteer their time and skills to assist front line firefighters.

First-responder paramedic services are available 24 hours per day, 365 days per year basis throughout the unincorporated areas of the County (excluding Fairview) as well to the cities of Dublin, Newark and San Leandro, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

The goal of the Operations branch is to contribute to the safety of the citizens of Alameda County by safely providing emergency response and incident management for fires, rescues, medical emergencies, hazardous materials incidents, and disasters.

Training

The Alameda County Fire Department Training division is responsible for providing the support, oversight and coordination of training plans, exercises, curriculum and delivery methods that are in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the California State Fire Marshal’s Office, the California Code of Regulations, FIRESCOPE and National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) standards and recommendations.

Communications and Special Operations Branch

The Communications and Special Operational Branch is responsible for the operations of the Alameda County Regional Emergency Communications Center (ACRECC), the Emergency Medical Services Division, Hazardous Material and Water Rescue Programs and Emergency Preparedness.

The goal of the Communications and Special Operations branch is to administer special fire operational programs to ensure that local, State, and federal mandated and discretionary service levels are maintained within the communities served; to quickly and efficiently dispatch all fire emergency calls.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division

The Alameda County Fire Department Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division is responsible for providing continuing education which meets the state mandated minimum requirements for all of the Department’s Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics. Under the direction of an Assistant Chief, this division includes an EMS Director, an EMS Quality Improvement and Education Coordinator and is supported by an administrative secretary.

Information Technology Division

The Alameda County Fire Department Information Technology Division is responsible for maintaining, developing, monitoring and supporting several information systems and providing network infrastructure and technical support for the Department.

Special Operations Division

The Alameda County Fire Department Special Operations Division is responsible for training personnel and maintaining equipment to provide hazardous material and water rescue response capabilities.

Administrative Support Services Branch

The Administrative Support Services Branch is responsible for a broad array of administrative, financial, and programmatic service areas that are essential for maintaining operational readiness. These areas include Fleet Management (Apparatus Maintenance and Repair), Facilities, Human Resources, Public Education and Community Relations and Financial Services.

The goal of the Administrative Support Services Branch is to administer support service activities and programs that are essential for maintaining operational readiness.

Fleet Management Division

The Alameda County Fire Department Fleet Management Division is responsible for maintaining the operational readiness of the Department’s fleet of apparatus and support vehicles. Performing routine and emergency repairs, safety inspections, preventative maintenance, communications equipment installation, and emergency apparatus outfitting are among a few of the countless duties that are carried out by a team of highly skilled fire mechanics and an administrative secretary.

Financial Services Division

The Alameda County Fire Department Financial Services Division is responsible for the financial and budget reporting, payroll, accounts and contracts payable, procurement and revenue and cash accounting for the entire agency.

Facilities Division

The Alameda County Fire Department Facilities Division is responsible for the general maintenance of all the Department’s fire stations and division offices, the project management of the building processes for new Department facilities and restoration of existing facilities.

Human Resources Division

The Alameda County Fire Department Human Resources Division, in cooperation with the Alameda County Human Resource Services Department is responsible for the planning, organizing and directing of the Department’s personnel management which includes recruitment and selection, disability management, labor and employee relations, classification, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) matters and Workers’ Compensation.

Fire Prevention Branch

The primary responsibilities of Fire Prevention Branch are the enforcement of all applicable State and local fire codes and standards, and fire investigations. Code enforcement is accomplished through the review and approval of building and facility plans, inspection of completed work, and certification of occupancy.

The goal of the Fire Prevention Branch is to provide fire prevention services to meet the current and future needs of communities served.