It would be difficult to imagine a more challenging first day of work than the one faced by Fire Chief William McDonald, the new head of the Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD).
McDonald, who succeeded recently retired Fire Chief David Rocha, was scheduled to take command of the department Aug. 17, the day after lightning storms sparked hundreds of fires across the state. One of those fires, the SCU Lightning Complex, started burning in Alameda County and four other nearby counties. It prompted evacuation orders and warnings as it grew to the third largest wildfire in California history at nearly 400,000 acres.
“It was very busy and very stressful,” McDonald said. “But it was a pretty amazing time to see the response of Alameda County firefighters, as well as our partners in mutual aid and other fire departments throughout the county — just an amazing response, from our Cal Fire partners as well.”