Fire Department

The Alameda County Fire Department provides emergency response, fire prevention, rescue services, and community safety education across its service area. This article explains which communities the department serves, how to locate the appropriate office or station, where to access official fire prevention and training information, and what to consider before requesting assistance. It also covers wildfire preparation, fire hazard complaints, community programs, and the differences between emergency dispatch, administrative services, and local fire code offices.

The official Alameda County Fire Department website uses the alamedacountyfire.gov domain. The department, commonly called ACFD, was established on July 1, 1993, as a dependent special district governed by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. Its formation consolidated the Castro Valley Fire Department, Eden Consolidated Fire Protection District, and County Fire Patrol. Additional cities and national laboratory fire services later joined the department.

For residents and businesses, the most useful first step is identifying the service needed and the location involved. An active emergency, a question about a building project, a neighborhood vegetation concern, and a request for a safety presentation belong to different parts of the organization. Choosing the appropriate contact helps direct the issue to the staff responsible for it.

Communities Within the Service Area

ACFD provides all-risk emergency services to unincorporated Alameda County, excluding Fairview, and to the cities of Dublin, Emeryville, Newark, San Leandro, and Union City. Its service area also includes Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The department covers approximately 508 square miles, including urban neighborhoods, industrial areas, waterways, agricultural land, and areas where development meets wildland vegetation.

The county name alone does not establish that a property receives its local fire services from ACFD. Incorporated city boundaries, unincorporated communities, laboratory sites, and dispatch arrangements all matter. The department’s service area map provides a geographic reference when determining which areas the department serves.

For fire code questions, use the address-based routing tool on the department’s Fire Prevention page. This is particularly useful for locations described using a nearby city’s name even though the property is in an unincorporated area. County Fire Code Administration serves unincorporated areas outside Fairview, including Ashland, Cherryland, Castro Valley, Sunol, unincorporated Livermore, and unincorporated Pleasanton.

Regional Dispatch Has Broader Coverage

ACFD operates the Alameda County Regional Emergency Communications Center, known as ACRECC. The center coordinates emergency communications and dispatch for a broader group of communities and agencies than ACFD’s direct fire service area.

Its regional responsibilities include dispatch services for Alameda, Fremont, Livermore, and Pleasanton, along with communities served directly by ACFD. It also serves laboratory facilities and Camp Parks Combat Support Training Center. Receiving dispatch services through ACRECC does not mean that every participating city has consolidated its fire department with ACFD.

The center also supports countywide emergency medical coordination, mass-casualty alerts and advisories, communications between ambulances and hospital emergency rooms, and the coordination and tracking of mutual aid. These functions help agencies share resources during incidents involving multiple jurisdictions.

Emergency Calls and Routine Questions

Call 911 for an emergency. The department identifies 911 as the emergency contact and separately provides dispatch business numbers, administrative contacts, and program information lines. Administrative and education contacts serve different purposes from emergency reporting.

The official department contact directory separates emergency dispatch from business and nonemergency dispatch inquiries. It also identifies contacts for administration, emergency preparedness, community CPR, community relations, media relations, vehicle maintenance, and fire code administration. Refer to the category that matches the reason for your inquiry.

Fire Administration brings together department leadership and several support functions, including emergency medical services, special operations, training, emergency preparedness, community relations, financial services, administrative services, and human resources. A general organizational question fits a different contact route from a property-specific code issue, which should go to the office serving that jurisdiction.

Why Engines Attend Medical Calls

ACFD is an all-risk response agency. Its firefighters respond to medical emergencies as well as fires, rescues, hazardous materials incidents, and disasters. A fire engine or truck at a medical call therefore reflects the department’s emergency response role.

The department explains that taking the apparatus to a medical incident allows the crew to move directly to another type of emergency, including a structure fire, after completing the medical response. The vehicle carries the equipment needed for those different assignments, allowing firefighters to remain ready for the next call.

Stations and Specialized Response Resources

The official stations and facilities directory identifies station locations, response areas, apparatus, and department facilities. It is useful for understanding the local station network and identifying facilities associated with a particular community. Station descriptions also show why equipment differs from one location to another.

In Castro Valley, Station 6 serves canyon areas and the easternmost portions of the community. Station 7 serves portions of Interstate 580 and nearby urban wildland interface areas. Station 26 serves northwestern Castro Valley and houses a patrol unit used primarily for wildland responses. The directory identifies Station 25 as an interim station.

San Leandro stations illustrate the department’s specialized capabilities. Station 11 has primary water rescue responsibility for San Francisco Bay and uses a rescue boat housed at the San Leandro Marina. Station 12 houses hazardous materials response vehicles, while Station 24 serves Ashland and includes a heavy rescue unit.

In Dublin, Stations 16, 17, and 18 cover different portions of the city, including residential neighborhoods, commercial areas, highways, and wildland interface areas. Newark has Stations 27, 28, and 29. Union City’s Stations 31, 32, and 33 serve central Union City, the Alvarado District, and the Decoto District, respectively. Emeryville has Stations 34 and 35.

Station Status and Facility Purpose

Station 8 is identified as out of service. Its firefighters relocated to Station 20, where Engine 8 and Engine 308 respond from. The former Station 8 facility no longer houses firefighters or equipment. A station number in an older document should therefore be checked against the official directory before relying on that location.

Station 15 is a reserve station housing apparatus and equipment for the department’s Reserve Firefighters. The training facility and vehicle maintenance facility also have specialized purposes. They should not be confused with Fire Administration or a local Fire Prevention office simply because they are department facilities.

Sunol has a distinct service arrangement: fire services for the surrounding unincorporated area are provided under contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CAL FIRE. Station 14 belongs to CAL FIRE, while ACFD owns the Type I engine there.

Fire Prevention and Building Projects

The department’s Fire Prevention Branch enforces applicable state and local fire codes and standards and conducts fire investigations. Its code enforcement work includes reviewing and approving building and facility plans, inspecting completed work, and certification of occupancy. These responsibilities are separate from the emergency response work performed by station crews.

The Fire Prevention address lookup directs users to the correct service-area webpage. Enter the property address, then select the link provided in the dialogue box. County Fire Code Administration handles unincorporated areas outside Fairview, while city-specific offices serve Dublin, Emeryville, Newark, San Leandro, and Union City under contract.

Use the location of the property involved to identify the responsible office. A project in Dublin should be directed to Dublin Fire Prevention, while a project in an unincorporated community should be routed through County Fire Code Administration. San Leandro’s Fire Prevention office is located on the first floor of San Leandro City Hall.

Information for a Project Inquiry

The department states that Fire Prevention staff work with county and city planning teams before project approvals and are available to provide information, reference materials, and consultation. Discussing a project at that stage can help address fire code questions before later review.

When contacting the appropriate office, organize the inquiry around the property address, the proposed work, and the question you need answered. Explain whether you are asking about plan review, an inspection of completed work, or an occupancy-related issue. This is a practical way to describe the request, rather than a substitute for the office’s submission instructions.

Follow the instructions on the service-area webpage reached through the address tool. Countywide organizational information explains the branch’s responsibilities, but the local office is the relevant contact for questions about a particular property or project.

Fire Hazards and Property Complaints

ACFD works with its jurisdictions on fire clearance and fire hazard abatement. The department explains that these programs operate under state statutes and locally adopted fire codes and ordinances, which determine the timing and enforcement authority available to the department and local law enforcement.

A complaint may come from a resident or another city or county entity. The department’s described process includes investigating the complaint, preparing and communicating actions, monitoring compliance, and forwarding the matter to the appropriate law enforcement agency for further intervention when appropriate.

For a property concern, identify the location and explain the condition you believe creates a fire hazard when contacting the responsible fire code office. A neighborhood concern involving vegetation or property conditions follows a different route from an active emergency. Avoid treating a request for an investigation as a guarantee that a particular enforcement action will occur.

Wildfire Preparation and Defensible Space

ACFD conducts defensible space inspections for residents in its Very High Fire Severity Zones. The program focuses on wildfire safety and vegetation management around homes. Defensible space can slow or halt fire approaching a property and improve conditions for firefighters working to protect it.

The department’s defensible space page includes an inspection request option, a fire hazard severity zone locator, and guidance organized by distance from a building. Use that page to access the department’s inspection pathway and review the vegetation management information relevant to the property.

Zone Zero: The First Five Feet

The ember-resistant zone extends from the building to five feet away. Department guidance recommends gravel, pavers, or concrete instead of combustible mulch. It also calls for removing dead weeds, grass, and debris, including material on roofs and in gutters, and keeping branches at least 10 feet from chimneys and stovepipes.

Garbage containers, vehicles, and boats should be relocated away from this zone. The purpose of these measures is to reduce combustible material immediately beside the building, where embers or nearby burning objects could threaten the structure.

Zones One and Two

Zone 1 extends from five to 30 feet from the building. Guidance includes removing dead vegetation and accumulated leaves and needles, maintaining separation between trees, pruning flammable plants near windows, and clearing combustible vegetation and items from beneath decks, balconies, and stairs. Space should also be maintained between vegetation and items such as patio furniture and wood piles.

Zone 2 extends from 30 to 100 feet, or to the property line. The department recommends trimming annual grass to no more than four inches and maintaining vertical and horizontal separation among grass, shrubs, and trees. Removing fallen leaves, needles, and small branches reduces material that can contribute to fire spread.

Plant spacing depends on vegetation size, type, and land slope. The department’s guidance explains that larger plants on steeper slopes need more separation. For vertical clearance between shrubs and tree branches, it gives the example of a five-foot shrub needing 15 feet of clearance to the lowest tree branch.

For clearing vegetation in dry conditions, the department advises mowing before 10 a.m. and avoiding hot or windy days. It identifies string trimmers as safer than lawnmowers for vegetation clearing and recommends removing dead or dying vegetation when watering is reduced during drought.

Emergency Preparedness Training Options

ACFD offers training intended to help community members become more prepared and self-sufficient during a large emergency or disaster. Topics include personal emergency preparedness, Community Emergency Response Team training, fire extinguisher training, and understanding fire weather.

The emergency preparedness page directs users to upcoming workshops and training registration. It also provides an interest-list form for classes that do not appear on the sign-up page. Groups and organizations can contact Emergency Preparedness to discuss scheduling a workshop or training.

Before making a group inquiry, decide which topic best matches the audience’s needs. A personal preparedness workshop and CERT training are distinct offerings, so identifying the desired program gives staff a clearer basis for discussing the request. The department encourages participation at different levels of time commitment rather than treating all preparedness instruction as a single course.

Household Planning Documents

The preparedness page includes English-language materials such as a disaster plan worksheet, a family disaster supplies calendar, gas shutoff information, and survival flash drive materials. Spanish-language documents cover disaster planning, emergency gas shutoff, family disaster supplies, and preparation calendars.

These materials support household planning alongside the department’s classes. Readers can select the language and document that fit the task, such as developing a family plan or organizing supplies, and use the training contact for questions about workshops.

Community Education and CPR Classes

The community education program page describes safety presentations, station tours, CPR and AED instruction, and the ride-along program. Program dates and times may be limited by scheduling and instructor availability. The department also states that programs may be modified to meet the needs of their intended audience.

Station tours are described as 30-minute programs for all ages, with an audience size of 20. Community events and safety presentations can serve all ages and any audience size, with program length varying. The ride-along program has a minimum age of 16, accommodates one participant, and may last up to eight hours.

When discussing a program, identify the audience’s ages, expected group size, and safety topic of interest. Those details relate directly to the program categories the department publishes. Contact Community Education about specialized needs or adaptations rather than assuming that every listed activity has the same audience limits.

Informal CPR Training and Certification

ACFD’s dedicated Hands-Only CPR and AED training page describes free, informal, non-certification community training. It is intended for people who live or work in communities served by ACFD and want to learn CPR without needing a certification card.

That page gives a time commitment of one to one and a half hours and recommends comfortable clothing. The “Watch, then Practice” format involves moderate physical activity. If an employer requires a certification card, recognize that this particular community offering is described as non-certification training.

The general community education page separately lists a Hands-Only CPR and AED program for young adults and adults with an audience size of 10 and a length of three and a half hours. Because the pages describe different durations, confirm the specific class format with the program contact when arranging participation.

Volunteer and Department Support Functions

The department’s Reserve Program allows individuals to volunteer their time and skills to assist frontline firefighters. The Operations Branch manages that program. Reserve participation is separate from CERT training and community education activities; the department describes each as a different part of its services.

The department’s branches and divisions overview explains these responsibilities. Operations handles emergency response and incident management. Communications and Special Operations oversees regional dispatch, emergency medical services, hazardous materials and water rescue programs, and emergency preparedness. Administrative Support Services covers fleet management, facilities, human resources, public education, community relations, and financial services.

The Training Division coordinates firefighter training plans, exercises, curriculum, and delivery methods. The Emergency Medical Services Division provides continuing education for the department’s emergency medical technicians and paramedics. These internal functions are distinct from public classes offered through Community Education and Emergency Preparedness.

Department and Office Contacts

Alameda County Fire Department Administration Office
6363 Clark Avenue, Dublin, CA 94568
510-632-3473 or 925-833-3473

San Leandro Fire Prevention
835 East 14th Street, San Leandro
510-577-3317

Dublin Fire Prevention
100 Civic Plaza, Dublin
925-833-6606

Emeryville Fire Prevention
1333 Park Avenue, Emeryville, CA 94608
510-596-3759

Newark Fire Prevention
37101 Newark Boulevard, Newark, CA 94560
510-578-4218

Union City Fire Prevention
34009 Alvarado-Niles Road, Union City, CA 94587
510-675-5470

Alameda County Regional Emergency Communications Center
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
925-447-4257

Alameda County Fire Department Emergency Preparedness
925-833-3473 ext. 1721 or 510-632-3473 ext. 1721

Alameda County Fire Department Community Education Hotline
510-632-3473 ext. 1320 or 925-833-3473 ext. 1320

Alameda County Fire Department Vehicle Maintenance Facility
5777 Scarlett Court, Dublin, CA 94568
925-833-3473 ext. 1500

Fire Department FAQs

Do taxpayers pay for firefighters’ groceries?

No. According to the department’s official frequently asked questions, Alameda County Fire Department firefighters buy their own food. They work 24-hour shifts and purchase groceries so they can prepare meals at the station throughout their shift. Seeing a crew shopping does not mean the department is paying for those groceries.

Why are three firefighters needed on an apparatus?

The department explains that each crew member has a separate assignment. The captain supervises the crew, assesses the emergency, and requests and organizes additional resources. The engineer keeps the apparatus ready and operates equipment that supplies responders with water, air, and lighting. The firefighter performs tasks such as deploying hose, placing ladders, and providing emergency medical care under the captain’s direction. These responsibilities explain why staffing involves more than having someone drive the vehicle: the crew must manage the incident, operate equipment, and carry out emergency work.

How does regional service benefit my community?

The department identifies shared costs and access to specialized capabilities as advantages of its regional approach. Participating communities can draw on resources such as heavy rescue and hazardous materials teams that an individual jurisdiction may be unable to maintain independently. For residents, that means the response network includes specialized equipment and personnel beyond a single neighborhood station. The department also assigns specific personnel to individual jurisdictions to address local needs while retaining access to the broader regional network.

Where can residents find fire department events?

The official department website includes a News & Events section and a More Events option. The department identifies town hall meetings, fire station open houses, and other community outreach events as opportunities to stay informed and meet local firefighters. Check the posted event details before planning a visit; the department describes these activities as periodic, so an open house or town hall should not be assumed to run on a regular weekly schedule.