Fire chief to step down in Vacaville; interim in place

VACAVILLE — Fire Chief Brian Preciado will close out eight years at the helm of the Vacaville Fire Department on March 15, Vacaville City Hall announced Wednesday.

Division Chief Frank Drayton will step forward to serve as interim fire chief until the City Council names a successor.

Preciado has run the department as a part-time chief since March 2010, when he stepped back from the full-time job as one of the city’s cost-saving measures.

He lauded the mayor, council and city staff leadership in a press release, saying they provided Vacaville citizens with a safe, comfortable quality of life during his tenure. He called Vacaville a wonderful town and said he is looking forward to staying in the community.

Preciado started his firefighting career in 1981 in the San Bernardino, moving up through the ranks to deputy chief before taking the fire chief job in Vacaville.

During his time here, Preciado updated the city’s emergency plan, upgraded the department’s technology and oversaw the purchase of three new fire engines.

“His expertise in disaster-preparedness has been an asset to the city, and he will be missed,” Vacaville City Manager Laura Kuhn said in the release.

Drayton has been with the Vacaville Fire Department since 2007, when he moved from Dixon as division chief of operations. He now oversees the operations/training division and assists with managing the support services division.

He said in the release that he is honored to be named interim chief and called the Vacaville Fire Department “a highly professional, positive and motivated organization.”

“All the personnel truly care about delivering the highest quality of care possible at all times,” Drayton said in the release.

Reach Ian Thompson at 427-6976 or ithompson@dailyrepublic.net.

Short URL: http://www.dailyrepublic.com/?p=131895

Posted by Ian Thompson on Feb 1 2012.

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