San Rafael taps deputy fire chief for top post

San Rafael has a new fire chief.

Abraham Roman has been promoted to lead the San Rafael and Marinwood fire departments, city officials announced Thursday. His new base salary is $224,568 annually, said John Stefanski, assistant city manager.

Roman has been interim fire chief since January. His predecessor, Darin White, resigned in December.

A 38-year fire service veteran, Roman was the fire chief in Berkeley before coming to San Rafael in 2022 as deputy chief of operations.

“I am honored to be appointed as the fire chief of San Rafael and Marinwood,” he said Thursday. “I am deeply committed to our community and will work tirelessly to ensure their safety and well-being.”

The fire chief leads a staff of nearly 70 firefighters who operate at seven stations.

Roman grew up in Sonoma County, where he joined the fire service as a volunteer at age 14 in the rural town of Freestone. Much of his career was spent at the Berkeley Fire Department, where he worked for nearly 24 years.

“San Rafael is fortunate to have Chief Roman as our new fire chief because he understands what is important to our residents,” San Rafael Mayor Kate Colin said Thursday.

“He brings an extensive background in the fire services that started when he was a teenage Fire Explorer,” she said. “I am thrilled he will continue to bring his expertise and enthusiasm to San Rafael as he’s already demonstrated as interim fire chief.”

Roman’s accomplishments in the fire service include developing a community wildfire prevention plan and managing a budget of more than $63 million, according to the city.

“His extensive experience and proven leadership make him the ideal person to lead our fire departments and continue our mission of providing exceptional service to the community,” San Rafael City Manager Cristine Alilovich said.