On Saturday morning, April 4, Fire Associates was paged by the San Jose Fire Department to a structure fire in the downtown area. Answering the 5:35 A.M. call were Don Gilbert and John Whiteside in Support Unit 2. They were met on scene by FASCV member John Whitaker and later joined by Mike Chappell and Bob Gundrum.
The 3rd-alarm fire, at 145 N. 5th Street, involved a carport and five vehicles that were located in a confined area to the rear of a 2-story apartment building. The fire quickly spread to nearby trees and a home at the rear of a Victorian on 4th Street. Limited access to the fire was a big issue that needed to be overcome by the first-due engine companies.
Fire Associates provided the usual early morning coffee and donuts from the new Support Unit 2. The rig's high-powered lighting was quickly put to use illuminating the rehab area. As crews arrived in rehab, the shiny new vehicle was a hot topic of conversation.
The Support Unit was released by the IC at approximately 8:45 A.M. ...just as the FASCV pagers were loudly announcing another event (See the next article).
A news story from the SJ Mercury News can be read at: Fire Destroys Home
John Whitaker's Photos can be seen at: SJS - N. 5th Street
