CA Fire Chief Takes Medical Leave Unrelated to Coronavirus

ALAMEDA, CA—The Alameda fire chief is on leave for medical reasons, but it’s not related to the coronavirus, according to the city manager.

City Manager Eric Levitt confirmed Friday that Edmond Rodriguez was no longer on duty, but declined to offer details, citing personnel confidentiality.

Rick Zombeck, who joined the department in 1983, is now acting chief, Levitt said. Division Chief Jeff DelBono, a key figure in the local Alameda firefighters union and who has been with the department since 1999, is serving as acting deputy chief.

Levitt made the appointments.

Zombeck officially took over the role March 23, which was the same week the medical leave started, Levitt said.

An estimate of how long Rodriquez might be out was not immediately available.

He took over as chief in November 2017 from Doug Long, who retired a few weeks earlier after just over 29 years as an Alameda firefighter.

A licensed registered nurse, Rodriguez had been chief of the Salinas Fire Department since 2012 before coming to Alameda. He began working for the Stockton department in 1989.

His background includes working as a paramedic in Fremont and as a staff nurse at Dameron Hospital and at San Joaquin General Hospital in Stockton. The 54-year-old has also worked as a flight nurse with California Shock Trauma Air Rescue and as a flight paramedic with Medi-Flight of Northern California out of Modesto.

The Alameda Fire Department has about 117 employees, six divisions and four stations, according to the department’s website. All fire stations and the city’s emergency operations center are staffed and ready to serve the public, according to the department.

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