My prayers go out to the Litman family. RIP Ben

This never should have happened !!

[Portion removed due to disrespectful comment or offensive language] That's why the ATF is investigating. Great job. Chief Richard Price!

seriously ralph???? not that my head is in the sand, but it is a sad situation all the way around! i can't believe that you are in such a negative place, that you would post something so cruel.
my prayers are with this family, and quite frankly it is irresponsible to make any assumptions at this point.
you should be ashamed!

Seriously Ralph? A mother just lost her son. Her husband is in critical condition. [Portion removed] Get a heart, man.

Ralph, you are heartless! A family is mourning fronm this tragedy, and you want to put out these accusations! [Portion removed due to disrespectful comment or offensive language]

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My prayers go out to the family during this devastating time.

OMG Ralph! You disgust me and people like you! This was a highly respected family! How dare you speculate such things! Defamation of charactor of the dead? I pity you... now "Go crawl back under your rock"....and stay there!

My heart sank when I heard about this in the news. May the Litmans family find the strength to overcome this terrible tragedy!

Perhaps Ralph would like to take this opportunity to retrack his former insenstive comment. I cannot believe that anyone would sink this low. What's next Ralph? Are you outside in search of a puppy to kick around?

Why is everyone on the back of Ralph Hoffmann...How do we know the exact words from Ralph...Emily and her of editors removed everything that was not warm and fuzzy. All you folks that are throwing rocks at Ralph may need to retract your comments what ever your comments were...Emily cut those out also. The Danville Weekly in my estimation has really gone down hill. Maybe they should rename this internet publication, "The Danville Happy Weekly" With a slogan like "Keep Your Comments "Happy" Or Goodbye Comments"

Thank for listening...Julia from Alamo

julia ...
i'm not even going to repeat the venom that was spewed and the speculation that ralph made about how the fire started, but let's just say this .... the danville weekly out of respect for this tragedy and for the litman family, did the right thing by retracting what he wrote. it was disgusting and it prompted outrage from the people who DID view what he wrote.
i'm sure you would have been equally disgusted, it should never have been printed
thank you emily!!

Julia

I am not in favor of censoring or "happy happy happy" all the time. However, I did see Ralph's comment and it was beyond the pale. I would not be surprised to hear that he puts kittens in a blender or something equally as horrible.

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Wow BigMan69 you are cool

Rather than delete community comments from the forum, the Danville Express should consider opening sensitive topics to comments from registered users only. An editor needs to utilize discretion, and foresight when posting information open to community comment. There was absolutely no reason why an event involving a death in our community needed to be open to all anonymous posters. Please consider the registered user option rather than censorship of thought. Thank you.

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Our prayer's go out to the Litman Family. Dr Litman is our family doctor and a very good one! I hope Dr Litman recovers. RIP Ben and the family dogs.

We are all praying for you!

If my deleted comments about the POSSIBILITY of why the ATF is investigating this fire offended you, I apologize. Note what remains. Regarding the "putting kittens in a blender" response, I've adopted a 2 year old cat from H.A.L.O. that was abandoned, with 92 others in a vacant house in Antioch last winter. If you want to know what true love is, adopt an abandoned cat or kitten, and then listen to the purring when you come home and he/she sits down on your lap while being petted.

BigMan69 is not cool in my book.

It wasn't so much the speculation that the fire was caused from illegal activities, it was that you accused the son of doing so to get inheritance, which would logically require the death of his parents to get it. That is accusing a dead man of parentcide with no proof when his mother is dealing with the death of her son and the injury of her husband in such a callous, flip way is cruel. I am glad you like cats, try treating humans a little nicer. I feel extreme empathy for a woman whose life has just been crushed. There are ways to imply or note a theory without being cruel.

well said becky .. thank you!

My heart & prayers go out to the Litman family. It's difficult to understand how anyone in such an affluent community that prides itself higher education has nothing better to do than write hurtful comments about a family who just lost a child. Ralph probably doesn't have children of your own or perhaps he and his children have lived exemplary lives. Ralph, if you're so perfect why not use your real first and last name when commenting? KARMA to you Ralph.

Kudos to Danville weekly for removing Ralph's post- for Mrs. Litman I'm sure did not need to see it. For the rest of us, apparently Ralph gets his jollies by pushing our buttons- if we all ignore him, he'll eventually get no satisfaction and stop posting. And DW won't have to spend time deleting his posts! I know that's difficult- but his comments are only as important as we make them. If his thoughts are this unimportant, so is the human being behind them (IF you want to call him that!)

My heart goes out to the Litman family. If there's anything to be gained here- everyone, go check your Smoke alarms now!

This is so tragic. It is beyond my comprehension to imagine what this family must be going through right now. This is a family. Our neighbors, our children's class mates, our friends.

Let's all check our smoke detectors, have our security systems inspected, and think and talk with our families about emergency plans. If another life can be saved as a result of this horrible tragedy, then in a very unfortunate twist of fate, then maybe something good can come of this.

God bless the Litman Family.

Dr. Litman and his family are the best. He is one of the best diagnostice and intelligent doctors I have ever had (and for many years) and his personality and humor and concern is excellent. I am so sorry about his son and wish Nikke and his daughter can provide healing to Dr. Litman at this time and themsleves. This is so so very sad and disconcerning to happen to such great people..who love their children so much!!!

I wonder why such a terrible tragedy brings out such angry and abusive comments from people. It is an unfortunate comment on the mental state of some readers.

I have two unrelated questions.

1. Is Ralph Hoffmann also making postings under other User Names, and is he the same Ralph Hoffmann that ran unsuccessfully for a fire department post where there were questions about the validity of the endorsements he represented that he had?

2. Was the fire equipment that was used to fight this horrific fire or the fire hydrant that served this house functioning properly, and is there a possibility of prior tampering with the equipment or hydrant?

How did it start?

Sensitive Issues: I disagree. We should be able to make comments without signing in. However, profanity should be deleted. Plus, we should all be respectful.

I do not know this family, but I wish them healing time & offer my condolences.

RH - yes, your comments offended me, and your apology is not accepted. I have adopted an abandoned pup - I love him beyond belief already. However, this is nothing compared to what I feel for my children or the shared grief members of this community feel for the Litman family. Regardless of how that fire started (and I have heard nothing from an authority that anyone is suspect), a family is grieving a loved one.

Julia - I agree the DW has gone downhill - somewhere around the time you joined up. Perhaps you could stick with the Pleasanton Weekly? My sister in law tells me there is a woman who refers to herself as "Julia from Alamo" who stirs the pot in ridiculous and vicious ways on that online community. Somehow, your personality comes to mind....

Ralph H,

Obviously adopting a cat is the only way you will ever get someone/something to love you (though your cat has probably already figured you out). Time and time again, whether in this publication or the CC Times, you show your hate and bigotry. Leave good people like the Litman's alone and stop being such an awful blight on this community and this country. Hate has no place here.

boy - the FD was really up to the task this time. What exactly are they monitoring?
Does this not put a bit of fear in everyone that their house may go up in smoke before the FD figures out there's a fire?
They're probably @ Safeway Alamo with the ladder truck buying USDA Choice Filet Mignon anyway.

Last I heard these clowns make up to $280K a year. Your tax dollars at work.

Dear Daniel, Thank you for your warm and thoughtful comments, it's appreciated. I will add you to my fan club. I will also add your sister-in-law to my fan club. It's great to know you and many others are listening.

Sometimes Daniel, you just have to hear the truth...some folks just can't handle it...but I'm sure when you get older you will realize your friend in Alamo (Julia) was just trying to keep you in the state of reality.

Thanks for listening, Julia from Alamo

To What me Worry!!!!!!!!

How dare you criticize the men in uniform...my nephew was a fire fighter until he lost his life 3 years ago trying to save 2 children trapped in their burning house... he got them out but as he was checking to make sure everyone was out the house went into full blaze.. he was 24...so how dare you even comment on these men being at the grocery store buying meat and how much they make.. shame on you!!!

FD Fan: Please know that 99% of us have absolute respect and admiration for the courage and efforts of fire fighters risking their lives out there, and do not let one idiot's off base comments upset you. May god bless your nephew and all our brave fire fighters.

My grandfather was Oakland FD and was paralyzed from the waist down in action for the last half of his life.
You need to watch San Ramon Valley FD in action - watch them park the ladder truck (why a ladder truck in a town with no building over 2 stories anyways?) at the local Orchard Supply, Safeway, etc. Watch them accumulate O/T at the taxpayer expense to the tune of $280K a year. Watch them inflate their pensions by giving themselves raises and O/T in their last year.
Open your eyes, FD Fan and American. Last I heard this is a free country and I can express myself.
Thanks for playing.

All of Bishop Ranch Business Park, and the Mariott Hotel.