History and Formation of the San Ramon Valley Fire District

The San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District is an outgrowth of many years of maturation.  Its early beginning took place 90 years ago at a meeting of the Danville Improvement Club.  The meeting held on March 19, 1912 was comprised of the leading ladies and men of Danville.   At this meeting, it was decided that a volunteer fire department needed to be organized.  The idea was unanimously approved, and the name Danville Farm Defense Fire District was established.   In 1921, a state law permitted the organization of special fire districts and empowered them with the authority to levy a tax for their support.  Thus, on September 6, 1921, the Danville Farm Defense Fire District became the Danville Fire Protection District, an independent fire district and a political subdivision of the State of California.    The official boundaries were re-designated to encompass Danville, Sycamore and Green Valley School District, an area of approximately fifty (50) square miles.

In 1963, Contra Costa County reorganized its East County Fire Protection District into the San Ramon Fire Protection District, an independent district.  In December 1979, Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) initiated the consolidation of the Danville Fire Protection District and the San Ramon Fire Protection District.  On July 1, 1980, with the merger complete, the two Districts were renamed the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District (SRVFPD).  The new District serviced the communities of Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, Diablo and San Ramon, within a 70 square mile area.  The organization was comprised of 4 fire stations, 27 emergency vehicles and 71 employees.  With the reorganization of these two districts, the newly formed District became governed by 5 locally elected Board of Directors, independent of the County Board of Supervisors.

Some ten years later, the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District and the Tassajara Fire Protection District initiated a merger process.  In January 1991, LAFCO completed the annexation of all territories of the Tassajara Fire Protection District and transferred them to the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District, which included Tassajara Valley and the southern boundary of Morgan Territory.  Simultaneously, the Tassajara Fire Protection District was dissolved.  

In July 1997, the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District and the City of San Ramon moved forward with an annexation of the Dougherty Regional Fire Authority to the SRVFPD.  With this annexation, the District extended its fire service boundary to the Contra Costa/Alameda County line.

The San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District’s evolution over the past 90 years is notable and its endeavors impressive.  Below is a summary of key milestones and accomplishments since its inception. 

March 1912
A "Fireman's Ball" was held to finance the Danville Farm Fire Defense District. The net proceeds of $100.00 realized at the event were deposited into the first bank account.
 
April 1922
The Danville Fire Protection District (DFPD) purchased its first fire truck for $4,140. The new truck was a Reo-American La France, which replaced a trailer equipped with ten 10-gallon milk cans full of water.  The volunteer, who got to the trailer first, hitched it to their vehicle and pulled it to the fire. Gunnysacks were soaked in the water and then used to beat out the fire.
 
July 1925
The DFPD purchased for $600 the site of the first firehouse at 150 N. Hartz Avenue, Danville. The firehouse was completed and accepted on December 2, 1925.
 
In 1928
A donated Dodge truck was converted into fire truck #2.
 
October 1936
The DFPD volunteers began receiving 50 cents to answer a call and 50 cents per hour thereafter.

In 1941
A two-way radio was installed between the firehouse and the County Sheriff, linking Danville with the rest of Contra Costa County.
 
May 1942
At the height of the war years, government defense funds were provided to have a man sleep in the firehouse.
 
October 1942
The DFPD entered the County Mutual Aid plan.
 
January 1958
A second firehouse was completed and located in Alamo.
 
January 1966
The DFPD established its first training program with the objective of developing new recruits with the ability to properly, safely and efficiently use the tools and equipment normally carried on fire apparatus.
 
July 1969
The DFPD purchased land to relocate and construct Station 1 at 800 San Ramon Valley Boulevard in Danville to be renamed Station 31.
 
February 1975
The DFPD completely modernized its communications system.
 
May 1975
The DFPD received its first ambulance donated through the "Helen Howell Fundraiser."
 
January 1977
The DFPD received an improved Class Rate from that of 5, issued in 1962, to a Class 4 rating, which illustrates an adequate level of fire protection facilities is being provided and maintained within the rapidly growing communities protected.
 
January 1978
As a result of population growth, emergency medical response service for the DFPD increased 42% over those in 1976.
 
February 1984
The San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District (SRVFPD) began staffing its ambulance units with the delivery of paramedic service through a public/private partnership with John Muir Hospital.
 
July 1989
Issued $13,100,000 Certificates of Participation for the acquisition and construction of certain land, equipment and capital improvements within the District. The primary projects included the construction of Station 36, Station 38 and the Administrative Office building and the remodeling of Station 31 and Station 33.
 
April 1992
Station 36, located in Tassajara Valley was staffed to provide 24-hour protection, formerly a volunteer-staffed station under the former Tassajara Fire Protection District.
 
May 1993
Refinanced Certificates of Participation issued in 1989 in an aggregated principal amount of $10,500,000.
 
February 1995
A public safety trailer called the "Safe House" was added to the District's fleet, allowing the Fire Prevention Division to teach home fire safety to school age children.
 
September 1997
The SRVFPD's Communication Center became accredited for pre-arrival medical instructions and call triaging. The District has consistently maintained this accreditation.
 
July 1997
The SRVFPD published its first community newsletter, serving 38,000 households in the area. The newsletter provides timely information on seasonal fire prevention issues.
 
July 1997
The SRVFPD negotiated a "Single Paramedic Program" with Contra Costa County Emergency Medical Services, beginning the conversion to a Firefighter/Paramedic ambulance service.
 
February 1999
As a result of a rating review, the Insurance Services Office (ISO) granted the SRVFPD an upgrade from Class 3 to Class 2 in the urban/suburban area. This improved rating tremendously impacts the community the District serves. Commercial buildings can now save from 2.5% to 4.5% on their base fire insurance rates. Nationally, only 5% or fewer agencies hold this prestigious achievement.  The District is a Class 5 in the rural areas and a Class 8 in the very remote rural areas.
 
July 1999
The Board of Directors designated the Fire Chief as the first Treasurer for the District.
 
October 1999
The SRVFPD gained "fiscal management" independence from Contra Costa County for financial reporting services. With the hiring of the District's first Chief Finance Officer in March of 1999, an "in-house" payroll, accounting and cash management
system commences, terminating its contractual agreement with Contra Costa County.
 
July 2000
The SRVFPD entered into a seven-year contract with Local 3546, a Memorandum of Understanding covering July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2007.
 
September 2000
A Chaplaincy program, operating in a non-denominational setting, was instituted with its primary purpose to assist District personnel and their families for life needs. During the year, the program has begun "outreach" assistance into the community.

January 2001
The District formed an official Honor Guard with the mission to provide honor and respect to firefighters who have fallen in the line of duty serving their community and country and to instill respect for national, state and local flags.
 
February 2001
Reclassified two Fire Prevention Inspector positions to Deputy Fire Marshal, reorganizing the internal structure of the Division to better service the customer.

June 2001
The SRVFPD broke ground for Station 30, located in Dougherty Valley. This turnkey facility, built and equipped by local developers, opened on June 1, 2002.
 
November 2001
The District began staffing every first run unit with one Paramedic for every emergency call.
 
December 2001
The District prepares its first Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for evaluation and award consideration by the Government Finance Officers Association and the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers Association.
 
November 2002
The District holds its first annual Employee Recognition Dinner and Awards Ceremony to acknowledge all the efforts put forth by each and every employee.
 
June 2003
The Board of Directors adopts a new “mission” statement as a result of the strategic planning process.
 
June 2003
Refinanced Certificates of Participation issued 1993 in an aggregated principal amount of $8,910,000.

April 2004
The Fire District website was modernized with a new look and features.