The Richmond Fire Department (RFD) has announced a series of new initiatives aimed at improving operations, increasing accountability, and maintaining high standards in public safety services. These changes are intended to better equip the department to meet the evolving needs of Richmond residents.
Mayor Danny Avula emphasized the importance of these reforms for local government. “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!,” he said.
As part of these efforts, RFD has created a new senior leadership position: Fire Services Business Manager. This civilian role will oversee finances and administrative activities, ensuring alignment with citywide standards and ethics. The department recently added an Internal Standards Officer focused on compliance and fairness within RFD processes.
In addition, three Deputy Chief positions have been posted to expand leadership capacity and support firefighters more effectively across the department. Applications for these roles are now open at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/richmond.
Chief Segal commented on the impact of 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!”
Alongside expanded leadership roles, RFD is proposing three policies designed to promote consistency and accountability:
– A policy providing guidance for fire inspections so that procedures are uniform throughout the city.
– An anti-corruption policy reinforcing honesty and accountability within the department.
– A purchasing policy that aims for responsible resource management through streamlined procurement processes.
These initiatives complement existing measures such as biannual internal audits, supervisory oversight of inspection reports, and random accountability checks.
CAO Odie Donald II highlighted the broader goal behind these steps: “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.” He also praised Chief Segal’s commitment: “I appreciate Chief’s hard work and willingness to, as the Mayor says, ‘Look for it, find it, fix it.'”
The department states that public trust remains central as it moves forward with these changes.
