The Richmond Fire Department (RFD) has announced a set of new leadership roles and proposed policies aimed at improving accountability and service delivery. These changes are part of an ongoing effort to strengthen operations and ensure the department meets the needs of Richmond residents.
Mayor Danny Avula emphasized the importance of these developments, stating, “One of my top priorities is taking Richmond’s local government and transforming it into a model public-sector organization. That work happens through continuous, focused improvements to the way we do business. That’s exactly what I’ve asked CAO Donald to do, and in collaboration with Chief Segal that’s exactly what these new announcements deliver. This kind of nuts-and-bolts progress is how we build trust with our residents. More to come!”
A key change is the creation of a Fire Services Business Manager position. This senior-level civilian role will oversee finances and administrative functions for RFD, ensuring alignment with citywide standards. The new position follows the recent addition of an Internal Standards Officer responsible for compliance monitoring and maintaining fair processes within the department.
In addition, RFD has posted three Deputy Chief positions designed to expand leadership capacity and support career longevity within the department. The Deputy Chiefs will join the senior leadership team, providing oversight across various divisions and supporting frontline firefighters. Applications for these roles are now open on the City’s job portal: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/richmond
Chief Segal commented on these changes: “This new civilian Fire Services Business Manager will provide us with subject matter expertise to bring RFD’s finance and operations in line with citywide standards and industry best practices” said Chief Segal. I am excited to strengthen our leadership team with this addition-and expand our capacity through the appointment of three new Deputy Chiefs. It’s a great time to join the Richmond Fire Department!”
The department is also proposing three new policies:
– Fire Inspection Control Measures and Guidance: Standardizes inspection procedures citywide.
– Anti-Corruption Policy: Affirms commitment to honesty and accountability.
– Purchasing and Procurement Policy: Streamlines purchasing processes for resources and supplies.
These policy updates build upon existing measures such as biannual internal audits, supervisory review of inspection reports, and random accountability checks.
CAO Odie Donald II highlighted the focus on service quality: “Best in class service delivery is our focus citywide. In the fire service that is seen through the ‘triple objective’ of life safety, incident stabilization, and property and environmental stabilization. The combination of this new structure and enhanced policies will keep the Fire Department running smoothly and ensure the department meets the high administrative and ethical standards our residents expect.” I appreciate Chief’s hard work and willingness to, as the Mayor says, ‘Look for it, find it, fix it.'”
These steps reflect a continued investment in transparency, operational efficiency, and public trust by Richmond’s fire services.
