Embattled Fire Chief Teresa Deloach Reed, who has been heavily criticized since 36 people died in the Dec. 2 Ghost Ship warehouse blaze, is on leave from the department tending to a sick relative, according to a fire official.
Deputy Chief Mark Hoffmann said he was told Reed was out due to a sick family member, and that he and Deputy Chief Darin White have been rotating as interim fire chief. Reed has been checking in with the department during her absence, Hoffmann said.
Oakland firefighters union Vice President Zac Unger said that the rank-and-file has not heard a reason for her absence and she’s been gone for weeks.
“All I will say is we’ve had no official notification that she’s gone but we haven’t seen her in weeks,” Unger said. “We have also had no official notification of when she’s coming back.”