Source: Bill Weber, Commander, VFW Post 10789, Brentwood
Learn more, here.
Downtown Brentwood fire station meeting Oct. 10
Danville murder-suicide takes lives of man, two children Wednesday
The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office investigated a possible murder-suicide at a residence in the 100 block of Larkwood Circle in Danville on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. At about 5:20 PM, Danville police officers responded to the residence for a welfare check. Officers entered the residence and found three bodies, an adult and two juveniles.
The fire department confirmed all three to be deceased. The adult is identified as 44-year-old Nemanja Isailovic of Danville.
According to his Linkedin page, Isailovic was a hardware and software engineer and worked since September 2016 as a Content Resource Engineer for IXL Learning in San Mateo. In 2010 he earned a doctorate in Computer Engineering from U.C. Berkeley.
There is no ongoing threat to the community. The Sheriff’s Office is still actively investigating this case.
Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600 or through Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
East Bay park district makes information about police, fire activity more accessible
Launches new system; sign up to receive updates
By Dave Mason, Public Information Supervisor, Public Affairs, East Bay Regional Park District
The East Bay Regional Park District has launched a new system to make information about police and fire activity more accessible to the public. The system also includes an interactive webpage with near real-time mapping of police and fire activity, including location, date and time, a general description, and outcome. The new system also allows the public to sign up for daily or weekly email updates with a summary of public safety activity and links to more information.
The new system is provided by Sun Ridge Systems, Inc. – Citizen RIMS and housed on Crimegraphics.com, which integrates with the Park District’s existing Public Safety Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Records Management System (RMS). The new system allows updates to be emailed out automatically rather than manually by public safety staff, increasing efficiency and allowing staff to focus on other important activities.
Most importantly, the new system increases public transparency by making disclosable public safety activity information more accessible. The system allows any member of the public to access near real-time public safety activity mapping information and sign up for daily or weekly email updates.
East Bay Regional Park District Public Safety map example. Source: crimegraphics.com
Access to daily or weekly updates is available via an easy one-time sign-up process. Email addresses are entered into Citizen RIMS / crimegraphics.com and will only be used to send email update to subscribers.
To learn more and sign up for these updates, visit www.ebparks.org/public-safety/activity.
User Notice:
Access to disclosable public safety activity information is provided as a public service from the East Bay Regional Park District and subject to applicable terms of use. To protect privacy, the Crimegraphics.com website does not provide information regarding juvenile offenders, or specific information regarding calls for service that are protected by confidentiality laws or sensitive in nature. The East Bay Regional Park District does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information contained on this website regarding specific incidents, crimes, or people with respect to the omission of information that may have not yet been filed or is pending filing with a court(s) of jurisdiction relating to criminal offenses.
The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,300 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives more than 25 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Antioch priest appointed first ever volunteer Con Fire Chaplain
By Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
First ever Con Fire Chaplain Fr. Robert Rien,
We are pleased to announce that Father Robert Rien has accepted the newly created position of volunteer Fire Chaplain – lead as part of the fire district peer support program. He is the first-ever official Fire Chaplain for Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. This appointment is effective immediately.
Father Robert Rien is a native of Oakland, California, and is a Priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland for the past 50 years. Ordained in 1974, he served parishes in Alameda and Contra Costa County. Three years after ordination, he served as the Catholic Chaplain for the 349th Military Air Lift Wing, stationed at Travis Air Force Base for five years.
He has been the Pastor of St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish in Antioch for the last 18 years. During that time, he served as Chaplain for the Antioch Police Department and for the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District. He holds the distinguished Master Chaplain Certification from the International Conference of Police Chaplains.
Before being assigned to parishes in Contra Costa County in 2001, he served as Chaplain for the Oakland Fire Department. In addition to his other duties and responsibilities, he serves as Catholic Chaplain for both Sutter-Delta and Kaiser Deer Valley Hospitals.
Additionally, he serves as a Regional Chaplain for the East Bay Regional Park District and a Contra Costa County Peer Support Services Association member.
Father Robert currently resides in Antioch. When not tending to his parish, he enjoys reading, cooking, and watching the 49ers, Warriors, and Giants. He appreciates being with friends and loved ones.
Located in East County, Father Robert can be reached by email at Rrien@cccfpd.org. Please assist Father Robert in becoming familiar with the District and join us in making him a welcome part of the Con Fire team!
Lafayette to host National Night Out Tuesday August 1st
By City of Lafayette
Lafayette Library and Learning Center – Amphitheater at 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
“National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.”
The introduction of National Night Out, “America’s Night Out Against Crime,” in 1984 began an effort to promote involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
Join us to ask questions and meet local first responders, there will be the following:
Displays from the Lafayette Police Department
Displays from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Informational handouts and giveaways.
Lafayette Crime Prevention Commissioners and Emergency Preparedness Commissioners
UPDATE: Search continues for man missing after falling off boat in river near Antioch Friday
A Coast Guard helicopter searches river for man along Antioch waterfront Friday afternoon, July 21, 2023. Photos by Allen D. Payton
By Allen D. Payton
07/22/23 UPDATE #2: According to Jimmy Lee, Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Director of Public Affairs, “On Friday, July 21, 2023, at about 1:51 PM, deputy sheriffs from the Marine Patrol Unit were dispatched to assist the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and the United States Coast Guard with searching for a missing boater who was apparently trying to push his 20-foot vessel to shore near the Fulton Shipyard on the San Joaquin River. The U.S. Coast Guard and Sheriff’s Office drone team were also involved in the search. The missing boater, who is not being identified at this time, was not located. The Marine Patrol Unit will continue the search today.”
07/22/23 UPDATE #1: According to Coast Guard Public Affairs Specialist Schnabel, “We suspended the search after searching until around 7:30 pm. One man had fallen overboard from a recreational boat and the other man jumped in after him attempting to get him out of the water leaving the vessel unmanned. Neither had life jackets. One man was recovered by a Good Samaritan and taken to a local boat ramp.”
———————-
A helicopter could be seen flying over the river and Waldie Plaza along the Antioch waterfront Friday afternoon. According to Con Fire PIO Steve Hill, “We responded in the noon hour to reports of a 55-year-old man in the water. In spite of searches by us, Sheriff’s Office Marine program and the Coast Guard we were unable to locate him. We are clearing at this hour, the Coast Guard remains on scene.”
As of 4:25 PM Coast Guard 11th District Public Affairs Specialist Hunter Schnabel said, “the search is ongoing for a male. We received a report from another male who was swimming with him after he got back to shore and called in a panic.”
A Coast Guard helicopter flies over Waldie Plaza in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown on Friday, July 21, 2023.
“We have Station Rio Vista and Air San Francisco’s MH65 Dolphins (helicopters) in the search,” he added.
Please check back later for any updates to this report.
Con Fire responds to 69 July 4th fires, 11 caused by fireworks 51 more believed to be
Source: Con Fire
Limited response plan implementation ensures responses to exceptionally high volume of fireworks-caused fires
Antioch had most with 22 & worst structure fire destroying garage, damaging two homes in which four residents displaced, dog died
Martinez man loses part of hand holding an exploding firework
By Steve Hill, PIO, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
July 6, 2023 – Contra Costa County Fire Protection District today made available details of the fire and EMS activity, much of it fireworks related, occurring across the district on the Independence Day holiday evening.
For the six-hour period from 8 p.m., July 4, to 2 a.m., July 5, the district dispatched crews to 69 fire incidents. This represents a more than 400 percent increase over other recent Tuesdays, which in June, averaged 20 fire dispatches for the entire day. Year-over-year, fire incidents were up nearly 60 percent.
The holiday evening’s 69 fire incidents point to the dangers of fireworks use in current heightened fire danger conditions. Eleven of these fires are known to have been caused, and another 51 suspected of having been caused by fireworks.
Source: Con Fire
While the cool weather was favorable and the midweek timing had the holiday falling on a work night, fires numbered some 60 percent more than 4th of July 2023’s 44 fire incidents for the same evening period.
Four Residents Displaced, Dog Dies in Antioch Fire
In spite of more than 60 grass, vegetation and other exterior fires burning across the district on theevening of the Fourth, only four structure fires ensued. Of these, in three cases, fireworks could not be ruled out as the cause. In the worst structure fire of the evening, in the 2 a.m. hour in Antioch, a garage was destroyed, and two adjacent homes substantially damaged as a result of fireworks. In all, four residents were displaced, and a dog died, as a result of this unnecessary fire.
20% Increase in Emergency Medical Service Incidents
Calls for emergency medical services were also up over normal, non-holiday periods with some of this increase likely attributable to fireworks activity. On the Fourth, 240 EMS incidents were dispatched with 64 of these occurring between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. the next day. Total EMS responses represent about a 20% increase over more typical weekdays. On average, Con Fire responds to just over 200 EMS incidents daily.
In one particularly egregious case, a 66-year-old male in Martinez was gravely injured in the 10 p.m. hour when he lost part of a hand while holding an exploding firework.
Source: Con Fire
Considerable preparation across the district, including upstaffing of additional dispatchers; two hand crews and equipment; two fire dozers; and the district operations center, staffed by multiple chief officers; resulted in rapid and overwhelming responses, which served to limit fire spread, and resultant damage when fires did occur.
All 60-plus grass and exterior fires were kept small, limiting potential for structure damage as a result of rapid and overwhelming responses as well as early notifications to 911 by residents.
Fire in Antioch BART station parking lot damages six vehicles
A fire in the Antioch BART Station parking lot damaged six vehicles on Thursday, May 11, 2023. Photos: (L) ConFire, (R) Denise Cantrell
During possible attempted gas theft
By Allen D. Payton
According to the Contra Costa Fire Protection District (Con Fire), a fire in the Antioch BART parking lot on Thursday was extinguished after a total of six vehicles were extensively damaged. Con Fire crews, along with Antioch and BART police, responded. The fire appears to have been caused during an attempted gasoline theft. The incident remains under investigation.
Photos: Con Fire
Con Fire delivers increased operational capacity in East County
Adds four-firefighter crew at Fire Station 92 in Brentwood, Advanced Life Support capability now districtwide
By Steve Hill, PIO, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) announced, Thursday, April 13, 2023, operational staffing of a completely new crew at Fire Station 92 in Brentwood and availability of Advanced Life Support emergency medical service on all operational crews districtwide.
Beginning April 11, the four-firefighter crew of the new Engine 90 was fully operational, more than doubling firefighting resources dispatched from Fire Station 92 located at 201 John Muir Parkway in Brentwood. This unique engine crew is specially equipped and staffed to perform fire scene searches and rescues, vehicular extrications, and other rescues. The additional crew will also support quicker assembly of firefighting forces in east county’s Battalion 9 and neighboring Battalion 8.
Additionally, on April 1, all Con Fire crews in the former East County Fire Protection District area of responsibility became Advanced Life Support capable for the first time since the annexation of that fire district in July 2022. With this change, all operational Con Fire crews across the district are ALS, meaning at least one of the assigned firefighters is a paramedic. Con Fire has been able to upgrade east county crews from their former Basic Life Support capability as a result of its inherent operational efficiencies.
The combination of these two major post-annexation improvements reinforce the benefits of consolidation of firefighting resources into a single, larger, more capable organization able to more efficiently deliver comprehensive fire, rescue, and EMS services across the county.
“I am proud of the work that has been done by so many, including firefighters, elected officials, and staff at all levels, to position us to deliver these life- and property-saving resources to residents of east county and our entire district,” said Lewis Broschard, fire chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. “The additional four-person crew on Engine 90 adds immensely to our response capability in east county and benefits central residents, as well, while districtwide ALS capability assures all district residents of receiving paramedic care in a timely manner anywhere Con Fire serves.”
“This is another milestone to celebrate as we work towards making east Contra Costa County safer after the annexation of East Contra Costa Fire Protection District to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District,” said Contra Costa County Supervisor Diane Burgis. “With the addition of four new firefighters in Brentwood, and assignment of Engine 88 to east county’s Battalion 9, there are now 19 firefighters where there used to be nine. This, and with the transition from EMTs to paramedics, we are providing more resources to east county cities and unincorporated areas, enhancing the quality of service, ensuring response times are faster, and we are all safer. I also look forward to the two new stations to be built in the next few years.”
Engine 90 is uniquely configured and staffed as a virtual ladder truck company on a fire engine platform. This means the new engine is equipped with all the specialized equipment, including rescue and extrication tools, typically found on a fire truck, with the exception of a 100-foot aerial ladder and master stream water nozzle system. It is also staffed with four firefighters, as opposed to the three normally found on a fire engine. These four crewmembers are able to work as two separate teams, essentially doubling the tasks that can be accomplished at an incident scene by this single apparatus and crew.
Engine 90’s innovative ladder truck-like configuration comes as a result of a districtwide shortage of ladder trucks due to the recent highway accident that took one such apparatus permanently out of service and nationwide supply chain issues creating extended delays in new equipment delivery times. Con Fire expects to be able to replace Engine 90 with a new ladder truck sometime in 2024. Until that time, Engine 90 will deliver most of the many capabilities of a ladder truck, minus its aerial ladder.
All of Con Fire’s operational crews are ALS capable, staffed with at least one paramedic on board, along with other crew members who are emergency medical technicians. Our apparatus are properly equipped and supplied with the medications needed to provide patients with a higher level of medical care including those in cardiac arrest and respiratory distress, and who need advanced trauma care, continuous IV drips, on a chronic ventilator, and those who require cardiac monitoring.
Paramedics and EMTs who staff the Con Fire ALS apparatus have a higher level of training than those who provide BLS services at other organizations. Due to their advanced training, ALS personnel are allowed to start IVs, administer medications, and give injections to help stabilize the patient on the way to emergency rooms or trauma centers.
Measure X is a countywide 20-year, ½ cent sales tax approved by Contra Costa County voters on November 3, 2020. Collection of the tax began on April 1, 2021. The ballot measure stated the intent of Measure X is “to keep Contra Costa’s regional hospital open and staffed; fund community health centers, emergency response; support crucial safety-net services; invest in early childhood services; protect vulnerable populations; and for other essential services.”
A board of supervisors created Measure X Community Advisory Board oversee an annual assessment of community needs, focusing primarily on the priority areas identified in the Measure X Needs Assessment, including emergency response (fire/medical), health care, safety net services, preventative care, affordable housing, and support for early childhood, youth, families, and seniors.
About Contra Costa County Fire Protection District – With implementation of a contract for service with the City of Pinole in March, 2023 and annexation of the former East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) in July, 2022, Contra Costa Fire now provides fire and emergency medical services to more than 770,000 residents in 12 cities and 11 unincorporated areas across our expanded 557 square-mile jurisdiction. The district now comprises 34 ire stations and more than 600 employees. Through our unique ambulance “Alliance,” the district delivers EMS and ambulance transport services to much of Contra Costa County. In 2022, the district responded to nearly 100,000 incidents of all types, including 67,000 fire medical emergencies, and dispatched some 100,000 ambulances, conducting more than 75,000 ambulance transports. Contra Costa Fire remains dedicated to preserving life, property, and the environment.
Public invited to ribbon-cutting for reopening of Pinole Valley Fire Station Saturday
Closed since July 2021
By Allen D. Payton
After over 12 years since it closed, Pinole Valley Fire Station 74 will reopen and a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate it will be held this Saturday, March 4, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District posted the following invitation on their Facebook page, Wednesday:
“You are cordially invited to celebrate a ribbon-cutting ceremony jointly hosted by the City of Pinole and Contra Costa County Fire Protection District to recognize the reactivation of Fire Station 74 and the implementation of the collaborative agreement through which Con Fire will provide fire protection, rescue, and emergency medical services in Pinole.
On this date, in a precursor to the many service enhancements to be realized through the upcoming contract for fire, rescue and EMS service arrangement with Con Fire, we will begin serving county residents from this renovated and long un-staffed station.
Please join our city, county and fire districts’ leaders, advisory commission members, along with firefighters and staff from the City of Pinole Fire and Con Fire, as we mark the reopening of Fire Station 74.
A ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. with brief remarks by Mayor Devin T. Murphy, Supervisor John Gioia, Pinole Fire Chief Chris Wynkoop, and Con Fire Chief Lewis Broschard, followed by a ribbon cutting and open house to introduce the newly renovated station to the public.
Light refreshments will be served.
A formal transfer of command will take place in a separate ceremony at the Pinole city council meeting on April 4 at 7 pm to mark the completion of the contract for service transition.
WHEN: Saturday, March 4, 2023, 11 am – 1 pm
WHERE: 3700 Pinole Valley Road, Pinole
District 1 Supervisor John Gioia also issued an invite to the event writing, “reopening of Pinole Valley Fire Station will save lives and property.
If you can’t make it in person, you can watch on livestream: facebook.com/contracostafire
Re-activating this Fire Station is the result of a collaboration between Contra Costa County, City of Pinole, and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (ConFire)
I successfully advocated to use revenues from the County’s recently passed new sales tax (Measure X) to re-open this vital fire station.
Re-opening Station 74 will enhance fire, rescue, and emergency medical services throughout West County, and it will be staffed by an engine crew operating both a standard structure fire engine and a specialized wildland fire engine.
My father died of cardiac arrest in 1987 after not getting medical care fast enough. I understand the importance of improving emergency response time since every minute can make the difference between life and death.
Under a new agreement with the City of Pinole, ConFire will staff and operate both Fire Stations in Pinole – the Downtown Station 73 and Pinole Valley Station 74.
Thanks to the voters for supporting Measure X to increase vital fire and emergency medical services.”
Source: City of Pinole
History of Station 74 and Reopening Process
Station 74 was closed by the Pinole City Council in July 2011. Also according to the City’s website, “For most of its history, the City of Pinole has operated just one fire station (Station 73). The City briefly operated a second fire station (Station 74), from 2003 until 2011. The second station was closed due to lack of funding. Since the closure of Station 74, the City has explored different options for reopening the station or otherwise expanding fire protection and emergency medical services.
In November 2020, Contra Costa County voters approved Measure X, a half-cent countywide sales tax expected to generate approximately $100 million annually. In November 2021, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors approved various appropriations of Measure X revenues, including $2 million to help reopen Pinole’s Fire Station 74.”
The process to reopen the station began last September. Then following the approvals by both the council and Board of Supervisors, on Nov. 9, 2022, the Contra Costa County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) unanimously approved the application for the fire service contract between the City of Pinole and Con Fire.
The partnership enables Con Fire to provide full operation of fire services in the City of Pinole, including the operation of both Fire Station 73 in downtown and Fire Station 74.
That will result ending the City’s own fire department. Emergency medical and fire protection services will be provided in Pinole by Con Fire.
“Residents, businesses, and visitors of Pinole would enjoy a higher level of emergency medical and fire protection services under the proposed arrangement than they do currently. In the future, if the City and Con Fire terminated the agreement, the City would need to reinstitute a City of Pinole Fire Department,” the City’s website reads.
All sworn uniformed personnel, with the exception of the Fire Chief, will become Con Fire employees upon the changeover.
The city will continue to own both fire stations.
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