Construction at San Francisco Theological Seminary Provides Rare Training Opportunity for Ross Valley Fire Department

In a rare opportunity for the Ross Valley Fire Department (RVFD), through close coordination with San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS), firefighters will be performing vital training exercises in buildings slated for removal on the seminary’s campus as SFTS prepares for new construction beginning this June.

For the past five years, SFTS has been planning the construction of a new student village and faculty housing on its picturesque hilltop-campus in San Anselmo. The plans have included extensive community involvement and a variety of public hearings, and have received overwhelming support from the San Anselmo community. Funded through the sale of a small amount of peripheral property, these activities mark one of the largest construction projects in the town’s recent history.

Beginning Tuesday, May 27 through Thursday, June 5, Ross Valley Firefighters will start several small fires in two buildings – 25 and 30 Kensington Road – and perform smoke and rescue exercises in two additional buildings – 108 and 130 Bolinas Avenue. For everyone’s safety, including the safety of the firefighters, please avoid these areas for the duration of these exercises.

"We look forward to this valuable training, which is critical to our job. Such a setting gives us the opportunity to create practical evolutions in a very controlled manner,” says RVFD Battalion Chief and Training Officer, Dave Stasiowski. “Ross Valley Fire Department has hired and promoted several employees over the last two years, and this necessary training provides us the realistic experience to develop our firefighters.”

The entire San Anselmo community is invited to learn more about the RVFD training activities and the seminary’s construction plans in an event on Thursday, June 5 from 4:00 to 7:00pm on the SFTS campus. Come watch video footage shot from inside the buildings during the RVFD exercises, meet an RVFD Batallion Chief, explore fire trucks, and view the seminary’s construction plans on the Geneva Terrace patio. Complimentary ice cream will be served from 4:00 to 5:00pm, followed by a reception from 5:00 – 7:00pm.

For more information, please go to www.sfts.edu.