Richmond Fire Chief Angel Montoya is out

A head and shoulders photo of Richmond Fire Chief Angel Montoya in a black or navy uniform with an embroidered Fire Department badge on the left arm and a metal badge over his left breast pocket. His name badge is over the right breast pocket. He is clean shaven with cropped salt and pepper hair and is smiling.

Richmond firefighters received a department-wide email Thursday notifying them that Fire Chief Angel Montoya was no longer with the Richmond Fire Department, and that Deputy Fire Chief Aaron Osorio would be acting chief for the time being.  The email, which Richmond Confidential reviewed, did not detail what prompted Montoya’s departure or if it was his…

Read More

Richmonders will get rebates for backup power during shutoffs

Richmond residents who lost power during the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) to prevent wildfires earlier this fall may soon be eligible for rebates for backup power equipment they buy to keep the lights on in future shutoffs. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved a $100 million budget last month for a program to…

Read More

Residents of Richmond public housing live in fear, demand action to address poor conditions

Her family dialed 911. But when paramedics reached the seven-story affordable housing development, they found its elevators malfunctioning yet again. In fact, the elevators at this federally funded housing development had not been working for one week, residents say, and they often break down. The building houses some of the city’s most vulnerable residents — low-income seniors and people with disabilities.

Read More

PG&E to incorporate safety initiatives, remove obstructing trees

After the deadly San Bruno pipeline explosion five years ago, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. launched a statewide upgrade to its gas safety program. Richmond will receive its PG&E pipeline safety makeover in the upcoming weeks. PG&E said it was introducing its Community Pipeline Safety Initiative to improve access to transmission lines for first responders…

Read More

Police steamed after small fire sets off sprinklers at headquarters

It wasn’t the heat, it was the humidity that got to members of the Richmond Police Department when a small fire broke out in the department headquarters Sunday morning. The fire-activated sprinkler systems extinguished the flames, but the sprinklers caused water damage severe enough to force the temporary relocation of 30 detectives and supervisors. Smoke damage…

Read More

Richmond YMCA toy giveaway founded by firefighter

Richmond firefighter Rod Woods started the annual Toy Giveaway 27 years ago, when he was first hired. “I told the Lord I would give back,” Woods said. This was his way of giving back. Woods was seven years old when his own family was in need during the holidays. “Somebody knocked on the front door…

Read More

Richmond firefighters take the edge off hazardous materials

Richmond fire fighters familiarize themselves with the first compartment of the three-compartment decontamination tent.

Nine Richmond firefighters trained for a mass casualty drill involving hazardous materials Saturday morning. The two-hour instruction took place at Station 64, parallel to the railroad tracks off Carson Avenue where freight cars often park while transporting high-risk materials. Training began in a classroom where HAZMAT specialists studied a slideshow and discussed how to transport…

Read More

Fire Department investigating home explosion

The Richmond Fire Department is working to determine the cause of an in-home explosion that happened early Tuesday morning. Chief Michael Banks said that firefighters received a call about an explosion at 2:22 a.m. Tuesday on the 3000 block of Ohio Street. By the time they arrived the fire was small, he said, but damage…

Read More