This study was conducted in connection with the Executive Analysis of Community Risk Reduction course of the Executive Fire Officer Program, at the U.S. Fire Administration's National Fire Academy. The problem addressed by this study was that the City of Riverside Fire Department (RFD) had not conducted a qualitative residential fire risk assessment for the community. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to complete a qualitative residential fire risk assessment, and provide local fire service leaders with insight and understanding necessary to pursue effective community risk reduction strategies.This research used descriptive methodology to answer the following three questions: (a) "What aspects of residential fire risk are having the greatest influence on civilian deaths in the City of Riverside"; (b) "How are residential fire-risks influencing civilian injuries in the City of Riverside?"'; and, (c) "What facets of residential fire risk are contributing most to property loss in the City of Riverside?" Research procedures included personal interviews with subject matter experts, extensive records reviews, and data extraction processes for a detailed analysis. The results of the study included the identification of demographic, social, physical and human factors impacting fire risk in the City of Riverside. Recommendations offered include using the information provided by this study for the purpose of establishing risk reduction goals and pursuing targeted risk reduction initiatives through a collaborative process with all affected stakeholders