Today marks Fire Chief Kris Concepcion’s 10th anniversary with the City of Vacaville, and with it, the announcement of his retirement.
Chief Concepcion’s last day in the office will be January 16, 2026. At that time, Chief Concepcion will conclude a distinguished 35-year career in the fire service, including 20 years as a chief officer.
Appointed as Vacaville’s Fire Chief on October 1, 2015, Chief Concepcion has overseen a decade of significant growth and transformation within the department. Under his leadership, the Vacaville Fire Department increased daily staffing from 19 to 29 firefighters, opened two new fire stations (Station 75 and Station 76) and expanded the number of staffed ambulances from three to five. He also implemented the City’s Ready, Set, Go! Wildfire Preparedness Program strengthened fire prevention and code enforcement staffing to match community growth and took on the added responsibility of serving as Interim City Public Information Officer for nearly two years during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Serving the City of Vacaville and leading the Fire Department has been an honor and a privilege,” said Chief Concepcion. “I am proud of what we have accomplished together and grateful for the dedication, professionalism and heart of the men and women of the Vacaville Fire Department.”
Chief Concepcion began his fire service career in 1991 as a firefighter with the Orange County Fire Authority, where he served for nearly 25 years prior to joining Vacaville. Rising through the ranks to Division Chief, he held a wide range of assignments, including paramedic, hazardous materials specialist, public affairs chief and administrative officer.
Beyond his operational leadership, Chief Concepcion has served on the California State Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Advisory Council as the first responder representative, bringing both his professional expertise and personal experience as a SIDS parent.
City Manager Savita Chaudhary praised Chief Concepcion’s service and leadership: “Chief Concepcion has had a profound impact on public safety in Vacaville. His vision, steady leadership and commitment to innovation have made our community safer and stronger. We are grateful for his decade of service here in Vacaville and wish him the very best in retirement.”
Born in the Philippines and raised in Southern California, Concepcion and his wife Peggy have lived in Vacaville for the past decade. Married for 38 years, they are proud parents of four adult daughters. Chief Concepcion plans to keep himself busy in retirement, learning new hobbies, spending time traveling and hopefully, one day, earning the title of “Grandpa.”
The City of Vacaville will begin discussions on the process to select Chief Concepcion’s successor in the coming months.
About the City of Vacaville
The City of Vacaville is located 50 miles northeast of San Francisco and 30 miles southwest of Sacramento along the Interstate 80 corridor. Vacaville is a vibrant community in one of the fastest-growing areas of the nation. Vacaville has a population of more than 102,000 with a full-service operation that includes police, fire, water, sewer, community planning, public works and related professional administrative services. Vacaville is one of California’s most attractive family communities with a historic past deep in culture, and a wealth of amenities with dozens of parks, community centers, museums, public venues, attractions and events. Vacaville is home to some of the largest and most successful life-science companies in the world, and one of California’s top five premium outlet centers.