Contra Costa County’s longtime fire chief is hanging up his helmet. Contra Costa County Fire Protection District announced Wednesday that Fire Chief Lewis Broschard will retire effective March 30, stepping down after more than 18 years leading the district and a nearly 29-year career in the fire service. His departure caps a tenure during which the district expanded services and prepared for increasingly severe wildfire seasons.
In a post on the department's Facebook page, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District laid out Broschard’s greatest hits, from annexations and an apparatus replacement program to station rebuilds, staffing increases, and new wildfire-response resources. The post also noted that the board will announce the process for picking the next fire chief at a later date.
Tenure and background
Broschard joined Contra Costa Fire in October 2007, and the district's biography notes a nearly 29-year career in the fire service, according to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. He worked his way up through roles from fire inspector to fire marshal and deputy chief before becoming chief, with the biography highlighting his focus on prevention, EMS and organizational modernization.
Annexations and regional consolidation
During Broschard's tenure, the district absorbed the East Contra Costa Fire Protection area in 2022, as noted on the county's fire protection district listing, and later completed the annexation of the Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District, a move documented in the LAFCO CEQA filing. Those consolidations, along with a service agreement with the city of Pinole, were presented by officials as steps toward more consistent and sustainable fire, rescue and EMS coverage across west and east county.
Operational upgrades and wildfire readiness
Contra Costa Fire announced a unified ISO Public Protection Classification of Class 2/2Y and put a seasonal firefighting helicopter into service, while also launching a firefighting hand-crew program, rebuilding stations, and expanding its regional dispatch center, according to the district's news releases. District leaders connect those upgrades to increased staffing in operations, fire prevention and 911 dispatch, plus countywide wildfire mitigation projects and dozens of Firewise communities formed under the district's outreach efforts.
Board reaction and succession plans
Board Chair Diane Burgis extended thanks and well wishes for Broschard's service and praised the district's work during recent wildfire seasons, as reported by the Richmond Standard. Her remarks underscored the board's focus on continuity as officials navigate the looming leadership change.
The department's Facebook post sets an effective date of March 30, 2026, and says the board will announce the selection process for the next chief separately, with daily operations expected to continue without interruption while the transition is planned. Residents are being directed to follow the district's official channels for updates on the search and transition timeline.
