‘It’s a labor of love and a sacrifice’: A Q&A with Oakland’s fire chief

It didn’t cross Damon Covington’s mind to become a firefighter until, he said, a voice “out of the blue” in his early 20s urged him to do it.

Covington heeded the call, joining the Oakland Fire Department 26 years ago as a firefighter-paramedic. In October 2023, he was appointed chief.

The Oaklandside recently sat down with Covington inside his Frank Ogawa Plaza office to discuss his views on the public safety challenges facing Oakland, including overtime costs, staffing shortages, and the growing threat of wildfires in the Oakland Hills. Covington also opened up about mental health in the fire service and addressed criticisms of MACRO , the civilian response program housed in the fire department.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Tell me about your upbringing.