City of Pleasanton and Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department Express Gratitude for Swift, Coordinated Response to Little Fire
Firefighters and public safety personnel stopped the advance of the more than 1,000-acre wildfire, protecting nearly 2,000 homes and structures
Pleasanton, CA — The City of Pleasanton and Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department extend their deep appreciation to the firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency personnel, regional partners, City employees and community members whose swift action and cooperation protected Pleasanton during the Little Fire.
The Little Fire began Tuesday afternoon, July 21, within CAL FIRE’s jurisdiction south of Pleasanton and quickly spread toward the city, threatening Ruby Hill and other nearby neighborhoods. Under the leadership of CAL FIRE and the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department, crews immediately deployed extensive air and ground resources to slow the fire’s advance and protect lives and property.
By Wednesday morning, the Little Fire had burned approximately 1,007 acres. As the fire threatened nearby neighborhoods on Tuesday, the City activated its Emergency Operations Center, and mandatory evacuation orders were issued for five zones, displacing approximately 6,098 residents and affecting 1,906 homes and other structures.
In response, the City opened the Pleasanton Senior Center as an evacuation support center for displaced residents. The evacuation support center has since been deactivated.
Firefighters successfully stopped the fire’s forward progress Tuesday night and established a perimeter around the fire. By Wednesday morning, the fire had reached 40 percent containment.
“On behalf of the Pleasanton community and our City Council, I want to express our deep gratitude for the extraordinary service of first responders, emergency personnel, the City team, mutual-aid partners and volunteers during the Little Fire,” said Mayor Jack Balch. “Their preparation, professionalism, courage, empathy and compassion were evident throughout the emergency and demonstrated what it truly means to be a Community of Character.”
The City of Pleasanton and the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department thank residents for responding promptly to emergency notifications, following evacuation orders and cooperating with public safety personnel throughout the incident. Their actions supported an orderly evacuation and allowed first responders to concentrate on protecting lives and property.
The response brought together the CAL FIRE Santa Clara Unit, the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department, the Pleasanton Police Department, Alameda County emergency personnel and other regional mutual-aid partners. Firefighters worked from the air and ground in challenging terrain while police officers and emergency personnel supported evacuations, road closures, public notifications and other critical response activities.
“This was the largest and most dynamic wildfire incident the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department has encountered to date,” said Fire Chief Aaron Lacey. “The communication and previous training across our organizations were key factors in successfully managing the incident. I want to thank CAL FIRE, the Pleasanton Police Department, City staff and all of our public safety partners for their assistance and coordinated response.”
The Little Fire serves as an important reminder that emergencies can develop quickly and that preparing in advance can make a meaningful difference. Residents are encouraged to create an evacuation plan, assemble an emergency supply kit, and learn more about wildfire preparedness at ReadyForWildfire.org.
Residents are also urged to register for AC Alert, Alameda County’s free emergency notification system, to receive timely alerts and important public safety information. During an emergency, residents can use Genasys Protect to check the status of their evacuation zone and view current evacuation warnings and orders. For current information regarding the Little Fire, visit the CAL FIRE incident webpage.
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