Ukiah and Ukiah Valley Fire District Announce Justin Buckingham as Fire Chief

UKIAH, Mendocino County — October 28, 2026. The City of Ukiah and the Ukiah Valley Fire Protection District have announced the appointment of Justin Buckingham as fire chief. The city posted the announcement in its October 27, 2026 press-release listings.

From acting leadership to announced appointment

The latest city notice follows an earlier announcement dated July 27, 2026, when Ukiah and the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority identified an acting fire chief appointment. The city’s official release archive now separately records the October 27 announcement specifically naming Buckingham as chief.

The distinction matters: a public agency’s announcement of a permanent or other formal appointment is a different development from an earlier temporary leadership assignment. The accessible release listing confirms Buckingham’s appointment, but this report does not infer a contract duration, compensation level, precise effective date or whether any additional board action remains pending.

Who provides fire services in the Ukiah Valley?

Fire protection involves both the City of Ukiah and the Ukiah Valley Fire Protection District. The city has previously described a unified fire-service structure serving the broader Ukiah Valley, rather than a city-only department with no regional responsibilities. Leadership decisions can therefore matter to residents inside and outside city limits.

For the community, practical questions include how the incoming chief will manage staffing, training, response coverage, equipment and coordination with neighboring public-safety agencies. None of those priorities should be attributed to Buckingham as newly announced policy without a specific official statement.

Where residents can find accurate contact information

As agencies update their websites, older staff directories may lag personnel announcements. For current non-emergency information, consult the city’s contact directory or the official announcement archive. Emergency calls should still go to 911.

Primary verification: City of Ukiah official press-release archive, entries dated October 27, 2026 (Buckingham appointment) and July 27, 2026 (acting fire chief announcement). This report intentionally does not treat outdated directory labels as overriding the newer appointment notice.

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