Fire District Dispatchers Earn National Recognition

The fire agency received a national accreditation for using a 911 dispatch system that tells people how to respond to an emergency while they wait for paramedics.

The local fire dispatch center earned national recognition for its practice of instructing callers about what to do before emergency responders arrive. The San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District's 911 communication center was named an Emergency Medical Dispatch Center of Excellence. In 1996, it was the eighth center in the world to earn the accolade, according to district spokeswoman Kim French. Since then, the fire district has earned the accreditation every year. “The residents of the San Ramon Valley are well served by the dedicated staff of the ... communication center,” Kim Rigden, a reviewer for the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch, said in a statement. “It was without hesitation that I recommended them for re-…

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Mayor Stepper's Update From Mayoral Conference in Washington D.C.

Local Tri-Valley mayors visited Washington D.C last week looking for federal support for local projects.

Danville Mayor Karen Stepper was in Washington D.C. last week with other Tri-Valley mayors, looking for federal funding and support for local transportation, safety and business projects. Stepper joined mayors from Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton and San Ramon at the U.S. Conference of Mayors. They also met with local congressional leaders and federal officials to drum up support and funding for projects, like the I-680 auxiliary lane project from Crow Canyon Road to Sycamore Valley Road. Mayor Stepper gives her take on the meeting last week: She says given the tough political climate in Washington, they were unable to secure funding for area projects.  “It’s a difficult and inconsistent environment,” said Stepper. She points to the …

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San Ramon Woman Killed in I-580 Crash

Car was trapped under a big rig near Castro Valley, eastbound on Interstate 580.

A 22-year-old San Ramon  woman was killed this afternoon when her car was trapped under a big-rig on eastbound Interstate 580 in unincorporated Castro Valley, a California Highway Patrol officer said. The crash was reported shortly before 12:10 p.m. on eastbound I-580 just east of Grove Way, said officer John Short. Eastbound traffic was being diverted off the highway at Grove Way. At least two lanes were blocked for about two-and-a-half hours. All lanes reopened shortly after 2:45 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol. The crash caused significant traffic backups throughout the afternoon on Highway 238 and northbound I-880 between Hayward and Union City, according to KCBS radio. Short said the victim's silver 1999 Honda had …

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Are You Ready for the Next Big Quake?

The nation's largest earthquake preparedness drill takes place at 10:21 a.m. today.

If you're on BART at 10:21 a.m. today and the train stops, don't stress – it's part of a statewide earthquake disaster drill called "ShakeOut." Across California, about 7.8 million people will take part in the exercise – 110,846 from Contra Costa County. Individuals, families, nonprofits, schools, businesses and countless other organizations in the region and across California will drop and cover that exact minute as part of the drill, organized by the California Earthquake Authority. The organization behind the campaign says it's a good chance to think about  your plan in the event of a big earthquake. The drill comes five days after the anniversary of the devastating 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and on the anniversary of the last major …

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Scene Around Town: Prepared for the Worst

Dozens of volunteers hit the streets Saturday as part of a training drill for the San Ramon Valley Community Emergency Response Team, who were practicing how to respond in event of a major disaster, like an earthquake.

San Ramon Valley Community Emergency Response Team volunteers prepared for the worst Saturday morning in an hours-long emergency drill across Danville and San Ramon. The idea was to train volunteer emergency responders on how to deal with a disaster like an earthquake along the Hayward Fault. So if you saw people running around in green vests and walkie-talkies this weekend, know that nothing serious happened – it was all a drill. So when a real emergency happens, rest assured there are plenty of people who can help you out.

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Hundreds Turn Out for Emergency Preparedness Fair

Agencies from across the Bay Area gathered in the San Ramon Valley to teach the public how to better prepare for an emergency or disaster.

Police, fire and disaster crews from the area set up displays to educate and entertain the hundreds of community residents that attended the annual Emergency Preparedness Fair in Danville. From face painting to fire extinguisher training there was a lot to see and learn.  The fair had presentations on stranger danger and even pet first aid.  The "jaws of life" demonstration was a huge hit for young and old, watching how quickly the first responders can cut through a car to get to it's passengers inside.  Attendees were made aware that they should have some sort of emergency preparedness plan and supplies. Seeing the tragedy in San Bruno just a few days before, had a lot of residents asking questions about personal safety. If you missed the…

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Free Emergency Preparedness Fair This Saturday

Ready for the next big emergency? San Ramon and Danville police and other local law enforcement and nonprofit agencies will host a fair Sept. 11 to teach the public about how to deal with different disaster situations.

Curious about what your local law enforcement agency does to prepare for disaster? A local nonprofit will host its 5th annual San Ramon Valley Emergency Preparedness Fair to show the public how local police departments and other public safety agencies brace for the worst-case scenario. Held by the San Ramon Valley Citizens Corps Council, the free event takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Church of Latter Day Saints, 655 Old Orchard Road in Danville. Several county, city and federal agencies will put on demonstrations and workshops, including the Walnut Creek bomb squad, the San Ramon Valley fire decontamination unit and the Second Military Brigade from Camp Parks. Attendees will get to see a "Jaws of Life" demo, a …

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Bullet Fired in Pleasanton Robbery Whizzed By Victim's Ear, Police Said

San Ramon man Antonio Faraz Rad is set to appear at the Pleasanton courthouse on Thursday for further arraignment.

PLEASANTON – A bullet allegedly fired last week by San Ramon teen Antonio Faraz Rad came inches away from killing a man, police say. Rad, 19, is due in court again in a week to enter a plea to charges of attempted murder and robbery. Police say the Diablo Valley College student robbed someone of two iPods and shot at him twice. Both bullets missed, and the victim, 23-year-old Fremont resident Esmatullah Baber, is unhurt. Rad appeared in court Thursday this week, when a judge postponed arraignment to give attorneys more time to review the case. Rad's Aug. 19 arrest wasn't his first brush with the law. Though he has yet to enter a plea, Rad faces a previous charge of felony vandalism for allegedly smashing up an Escalade with a couple of …

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Fire District Achieves National Accreditation

The San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District was recognized for its transparency, emergency preparedness and for living up to its responsibilities as a public agency.

The San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District was awarded national accreditation, which is considered a mark of outstanding work and responsible use of taxpayers' money. The 11-member Commission on Fire Accreditation International, based in Chicago, unanimously voted Thursday morning to award the accreditation, making the local fire department the first in Contra Costa County and the sixth in California to achieve the status. The national accrediting agency sent a team of inspectors to the San Ramon Valley to audit and assess the local agency. They evaluated the department based on the condition of its equipment, overall response times, emergency preparedness and its relationships with other agencies and the community. The inspectors …

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Update: Cainan Schierholtz Arraigned, Delays Entering Plea

Schierholtz's attorney Derek Ewin said the 23-year-old San Ramon resident is set to next appear in court on Aug. 19.

In a quick court proceeding this afternoon, 23-year-old Cainan Schierholtz of San Ramon was charged in connection with a series of hit-and-run felonies in Danville. He delayed entering his plea until Aug. 19, and a judge reduced his bail from $350,000 to $200,000. Schierholtz is charged with a felony DUI with injuries, three counts of felony hit-and-run with injuries and one misdemeanor hit-and-run for a string of crashes along Danville Boulevard and Railroad Avenue Sunday morning. "Cainan feels terrible about what happened," said Schierholtz's attorney Derek Ewin, a former Contra Costa County prosecutor, outside the courtroom after the two-minute hearing. "He, like all of us, is very thankful that nobody was injured any worse than they …