PRESS RELEASE JANUARY 21, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Redwood Valley-Calpella Fire District (RVCFD) Welcomes Retired Fire Chief Dan Grebil as their Interim Fire Chief Kerry Robinson resigned his Fire Chief’s position and will return to his previous position of Captain. At a Special Board Meeting of the RVCFD Board of Directors on Tuesday, January 14th, the Board accepted the resignation of Fire Chief Kerry Robinson and approved his voluntary request to return to his previous position of Captain, effective upon the appointment of an Interim Fire Chief. At the same meeting the Board interviewed Retired Fire Chief Dan Grebil and unanimously approved an employment agreement for him to serve as the Interim Fire Chief effective January 16th.

Grebil retired in 2017, after a thirty-seven-year career in the fire service, over twenty of those as a Fire Chief. His career began as a volunteer firefighter for the Tracy Rural Fire District and advanced through the ranks with the City of Tracy working all functional areas of a fire department. He served as Fire Chief for the Ukiah Valley Fire District, which also included an assignment as the Interim Fire Chief for the City of Ukiah and as an Emergency Command Center Officer for CDF at Howard Forest. In 2012, he was hired as the Fire Chief for the Scotts Valley Fire District (Santa Cruz), which included an assignment as Fire Chief for the neighboring Branciforte Fire District. His post-retirement assignments have included Fire Authority Administrator for the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority, a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Ukiah and the Ukiah Valley Fire District and Interim Fire Chief for the Lakeport Fire District.

Stephanie Dunken, Chairperson of the RVCFD Board of Directors, thanked Kerry Robinson for his 3 ½ years of service as the Chief and welcomed him back to his previous position as Captain. In hiring Dan Grebil, Dunken said that “the Board feels that Chief Grebil’s proven experience in Fire District leadership and management is exactly what the RVCFD needs during this transitional period for us.”

Chief Grebil has been charged with assessing all management and operational systems, working with the Board, paid staff and volunteers to implement any necessary changes as well as the recruitment of a vacant shift position and a permanent Fire Chief.

Please join us in welcoming Chief Grebil to our team here at the RVCFD.

The Redwood Valley-Calpella Fire District provides all-risk fire protection services to its 60.5 square miles of unincorporated communities. In 2024, it responded to over 700 incidents for service. Besides the Fire Chief, RVCFD employs three full time shift Duty Officers, allowing 24/7 coverage and a thirty two hour a week Clerk. The current volunteer firefighter roster is 23.

The Fire District is governed by five Board of Directors elected by the voters of the district.

District Personnel 

We rely on our crew of volunteer fire and EMS responders and the Fire Chief to provide the manpower to cover the needs of the community. In addition to emergency response, our volunteers help with fire and life safety education around the community and attend regular training to keep their skills and knowledge current. Along with basic fire and medical emergencies, services we provide include structural and wildland fire protection, rescue and extrication, hazardous materials response, and water rescue. 

The department remains committed to the safety and health of all Redwood Valley and Calpella residents and visitors and responds accordingly.

Redwood Valley-Calpella Fire District Personnel 

Name -  Position/Medical Certification and Hire Date

Paid Staff

• Dan Grebil- Interim Fire Chief
• Kerry Robinson - Captain/EMT
  hired as Captain February 6, 2016 
• Jeremiah Juszczak - Acting Captain - November 3, 2021
• Jessica Keizer - Controller - October 27, 2021

Lead Volunteers

• Justin Ebert - Battalion Chief/Training Officer/PA
  joined as Volunteer - August 4, 2008
• Tim Corpuz - Fire & Life Safety Captain/EMT 
  joined as Volunteer - August 7, 2004
• Matt Keizer - Engineer/Fire Marshal

Contact the District

Redwood Valley-Calpella Fire District

Phone: 707-485-8121

Email Address: jkeizer@redwoodvalleyfire.org

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 499, Redwood Valley CA 95470