NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 2, 2026

Contact: Steve Akre, Fire Chief – 707-996-2102 

Sonoma Valley Fire Chief Steve Akre Begins Presidency of the California Fire Chiefs Association

SONOMA, Calif. – Sonoma Valley Fire Chief Steve Akre assumed the presidency of the California Fire Chiefs Association (Cal Chiefs) at its annual conference in Universal City, held October 27 to 29. Akre succeeds Chief Bernie Molloy. Chief Adam Loeser will serve as president-elect.

Akre served as Cal Chiefs’ president-elect in 2025 and 2026 after representing Northern California on the association’s Executive Board and serving on its Legislative Task Force. As president, he represents fire service leaders across California on issues ranging from firefighter safety to emergency medical services.

Akre began his career as a volunteer firefighter and spent 27 years in West Contra Costa County, including service as acting fire chief in Pinole. He became fire chief of the Valley of the Moon Fire District in 2017. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Sacramento State University and multiple California State Fire Marshal certifications.

In Sonoma Valley, Akre led the 2020 consolidation of the Valley of the Moon and Glen Ellen fire districts with the Mayacamas Volunteer Fire Company service area. The Kenwood Fire Protection District joined the Sonoma Valley Fire District on July 1, 2025.

Akre has also served as president of the Sonoma County Fire Chiefs Association and the Sonoma County Fire Districts Association. He helped develop Measure H, the countywide fire services sales tax that voters approved in 2024.

Under Chief Akre’s leadership, the District used Measure H funding to add six firefighter-paramedic positions, increasing minimum staffing to three personnel per shift at both the Kenwood and City of Sonoma fire stations. The District hired six additional firefighter-paramedics to staff a third ambulance, meeting a need first identified in the 1990s. Measure H also funded a regional vegetation management coordinator to work with local partners on fuels reduction projects and defensible space programs.

 

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NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 September 1, 2026

SONOMA VALLEY FIRE DISTRICT UNVEILS COMPLETED 9/11 MEMORIAL, DEDICATION CEREMONY PLANNED FOR SEPTEMBER 11, 2026

Memorial featuring steel from the World Trade Center now open for public viewing at Station 1

SONOMA, Calif. The Sonoma Valley Fire District (SVFD) announced today that installation of its 9/11 Memorial at Station 1, 630 Second Street West, is complete and the memorial is now open for public viewing. The district plans to hold an official dedication ceremony on September 11, 2026, at 11 am.

The memorial is built around a steel beam salvaged from the World Trade Center, obtained through a generous donation from Sims Metal of Richmond, CA to the SVFD. This was made possible by Thibaut Ducy and Jill Rodby of Sims.  The installation also includes a commemorative brass bell, symbolic LED uplighting designed to evoke the “Tribute in Light” display in New York City, and a plaque with interpretive text. The memorial sits in a landscaped area in front of the station, creating a reflective space near the station's existing memorial wall.

“This memorial gives our community a permanent place to reflect on the events of September 11, 2001, and to honor the sacrifice of the first responders who answered the call that day, as well as all of those who lost their lives” said SVFD Fire Chief Steve Akre. “We are grateful to everyone who helped bring this project to life, and we look forward to gathering with the community this September to formally dedicate it.”

The project was approved unanimously by the Sonoma City Council on July 16, 2025, and was fully funded by the Sonoma Volunteer Firefighter's Association. SVFD is responsible for permitting and ongoing maintenance under the terms of the council's approval.

SVFD extends special thanks to Neil Colwell of Well Design Signage for donating his design services, and to Ryan Wellander for donating his labor welding the memorial's structure. Their generosity was instrumental in bringing this project to life.

The memorial is located on the grounds of Station 1 and is accessible to the public. SVFD will release additional details on the September 11 dedication ceremony, including the scheduled time and program, as they are finalized.

For more information, contact Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal Trevor Smith at 707-996-2102.

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