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On Wednesday morning, Oct. 28, a 2nd-alarm fire in Sunnyvale drew the attention on FASCV member Jerry Haag. Jerry had been listening on his scanner and self-dispatched to the incident with Support Unit 1 prior to Sunnyvale's request for our assistance. The fire eventually went to a 3rd alarm. Jerry has written the following report...
Date: 28 Oct. 2009
Time: 0715 Self-dispatch on second alarm, 0751 Sonitrol dispatch, 0800 arrival, released at 1300.
Type: Structure fire
Size: Third alarm
Jurisdiction: City of Sunnyvale
Location: 366 W. Olive St.
Details: Two-story, 16-unit apartment building in a complex of 8 similar buildings. Fire started on the first floor, spread to second floor and attic. Given the advanced stage of the fire on arrival of first engine, a good stop was made. Direct fire damage to only 4 or 5 units with smoke and water damage to 3 or 4 more. Hand-line attack was made by E-1. E-2 operated a deck gun. Mountain View T-1 operated an elevated master stream from an adjoining parking lot supplied by SNY E-5. Engineer estimated 1000 gpm flow to the pipe. He was carrying 240 psi discharge pressure (that's why we buy 1500 gpm engines).
Units in attendance:
SNY: E-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 30, 40, Reserve 1, T-1, R-2, Med-7, IC was Carrion
MTV: T-1
CNT: E-1
SNC: E-7, T-8
Responding Members: Haag (driver), Holcomb, Hoyt
Fire Support Unit Responding: FSU-1
Your friendly "Blog Master" (me) has been lounging in the Tropics for few weeks. I know, I know -- "It's a tough life". With my absence, fire reports have been delayed.
But, I’m back on the Mainland and it's time to get caught up…
1) Thursday, October 15, 2009
Palo Alto Fire called for Fire Associates’ service at at 6:52 P.M. Jerry Haag and Ron Green responded and were met by Len Williams driving Support Unit 1. Jerry submitted this report…
Date: 15 Oct. 2009
Time: 1854 Sonitrol dispatch, 1930 arrival by Green and Haag, 2045 arrival by FSU-1, released at 2130.
Type: Structure fire
Size: Second alarm
Jurisdiction: Palo Alto
Location: 965 Addison Avenue
Details: Single-family, single-story building.
Responding Members: Williams (driver), Green, Haag
Fire Support Unit Responding: FSU-1
Remarks: Extended response time of FSU-1 due to mistaken cancellation of Fire Associates response by Palo Alto Dispatch and then reinstatement. They meant to cancel only the Overhead Support Team.
2) Wednesday, October 21, 2009
At 5:47 A.M., San Jose Fire paged Fire Associates for a house fire in the Almaden Valley. Located at 5827 Brasilia Way, the fire was burning in an apparently vacant home. John Whiteside responded in Support Unit 2 and was joined by FASCV member, Mike Chappell. John submitted this report…
"Oct. 21, SJFD structure fire, 5827 Brasilia Way, at the end of the road and up the hill. This is near the SW corner of the intersection of Almaden Expressway and Coleman Road. Initially, a 2nd alarm but later downgraded. At about 0330, a caller reported a column of smoke in the area, but it took some time to locate and access the incident. Our page came in about 0550 and I reached the scene with Support Unit 2 and 3 doz. donuts at about 0630. Met by Mike Chappell with George Hoyt joining around lunchtime to see if meals were needed. We were already working on the order and George picked up 42 Togo’s.
When I arrived, only E13 and T13 were on scene, with T13 starting to leave. Single 3” supply line up the driveway. I wondered ‘what do I do with 3 doz donuts?’ About 0730, Sta. 5 personnel arrived with the Porta Potty and, during a walk-around tour, they and E13 noticed a body at the bottom of the basement stairs, in the water. The house had been rendered unsafe to enter. Looking thru the windows gave the impression it was empty, with no furniture. Also, there was much obscene, spray-painted graffiti on a garage wall.
That’s when things got very busy. Now, a possible crime scene!!! Soon, we had 4 SJPD cars, detectives, SJFD chiefs, Coroner’s office, SJPD Crime Lab van, HIT 29, USAR 5, etc. County’s arson dog (Rosie) was also called in. We had to wait until the Coroner retrieved the body, secured the scene, and departed. We got many thanks from all -- especially the Detectives and PD officers. We reminded them of how to request FA when needed.
We were on scene 9 hours. Not intense work for us, just coffee, lemonade and lunch. We checked out via PD security and went home around 1530."
3) Monday, October 26, 2009
Our most recent call occurred early Monday morning, Oct. 26 at 2:27 A.M. Milpitas Fire called for our assistance at a single-family house fire. Located at 610 Tramway Drive, the fire was in a residential neighborhood near the intersection of Interstate 680 and Jacklin Road. John Whitaker responded with Support Unit 2 and was met on scene by FASCV member Ron Green.
From the street, the structure looked undamaged due to a screen fence and vegetation that blocked the view of the home. Unfortunately, the screening also hindered firefighters’ access to the home which made suppression activities more difficult. Also, most of the fire was located in “add-on” rooms at the rear of the home. The fire was extinguished by the time FASCV arrived on scene, but our services were needed on a chilly morning. Crews remained to overhaul the structure and wait for shoring material so investigators could search for clues to the fire’s origin.
After serving a lot of coffee and donuts, Fire Associates was released from the incident at approximately 5:00 A.M.
At 2:06 A.M. on Sunday morning, Oct. 11, Fire Associates was requested by Santa Clara County Fire for a fire in Los Gatos. Responding to the 2nd-alarm call at 172 Towne Terrace was Jerry Haag in Support Unit 1. Jerry was assisted by FASCV member, Ron Green and guest, Dan Wong. Jerry has submitted this report:
Date: 11 Oct. 2009
Time: 0208 Sonitrol dispatch, 0300 arrival, released at 0600.
Type: Structure fire
Size: Second alarm
Jurisdiction: County Fire
Location: 172 Towne Terrace, Los Gatos
Details: Multiple-family, two-story building. Engine 3 and Rescue 3 first in. Two 1-3/4" crosslays pulled from E-3, water supply by 5" supply line from nearby hydrant. Two dwelling units seriously damaged, one fatality in first floor unit of origin, 7 persons displaced.
Units in attendance:
CNT: Batt. 3 (Parker), E-3, 6, 8, 10, 305, R-3, HM-2, BS-2, T-5
Others cleared before arrival of Fire Support Unit
Responding Members: Haag (driver), Green, Dan Wong (guest)
Fire Support Unit Responding: FS-1
Remarks: Donuts were served with prior permission of IC.
Early Thursday morning, Oct. 8, Fire Associates was paged to a house fire in northeast San Jose. The 3rd-alarm house fire was located at 754 N. White Road. John Whiteside responded to the 2:28 A.M. call in Support Unit 2 and was met by John Whitaker, Ron Green and Mike Chappell.
The house was almost fully involved when the first-responding fire units pulled up in front of the 2-story structure. Two of the occupants were standing on the street, but a third person was unaccounted for. Because of the intensity of the fire, an early defensive firefighting effort was required, which made any attempt of a rescue impossible. Unfortunately, later in the day, the remains of missing occupant were found on the second floor. Due to the instability of the structure, an extensive shoring effort was needed before the body could be removed by the Coroner's Office.
A rehab area was establish by SJFD Med30 and AMR on a nearby lawn and our Support Unit's portable lighting came in handy. FASCV supplied the usual early morning fare -- hot coffee and donuts. A considerable amount of water and other cold liquids were also in demand. As the morning progressed into the afternoon, Fire Associates also arranged for, delivered and served Togo's sandwiches, chips and fresh fruit.
The Support Unit was released at approximately 1:30 PM.
On Saturday, Oct. 3, Fire Associates was requested by Santa Clara City Fire dispatchers to a house fire at 723 Raney Ct. Bob Gundrum responded in Support Unit 1 and has submitted this report:
Date: 3 Oct. 2009
Time: 1811 Sonitrol dispatch, 1850 arrival, released at 2030.
Type: Structure fire
Size: First alarm (requested at suggestion of Fire Dispatch)
Jurisdiction: City of Santa Clara
Location: 723 Raney Ct.
Details: Single-family dwelling at end of cul-de-sac with fire in
attic after apparent propagation from fire in back bedroom.
Units in attendance:
SNC: E-3, 4, 5, 7; T-2; R-2; Medic-5; HM-9; Batt. 1 (BC Evans)
Responding Members: Gundrum (driver), Green, Williams
Fire Support Unit Responding: FSU-1
On Wednesday morning, September 30, FASCV was paged for a fire in Palo Alto. The 2-alarm inferno was located at 452 Maureen St. Responding in Support Unit 1 was Bob Gundrum. He was joined on scene by Jerry Haag, Ron Green, and Dan Wong (guest). Jerry has submitted the following report:
Date: 30 Sept. 2009
Time: 0850 Sonitrol dispatch, 0920 arrival, released at 1100.
Type: Structure fire
Size: Second alarm
Jurisdiction: City of Palo Alto
Location: 452 Maureen St.
Details: Small, Eichler-style house. Dispatched as an explosion followed by smoke and fire. Quick transition to defensive operations. Engine 4 first in, supplied seven lines total. Close exposures on B and D sides were saved. House of origin nearly a total loss - except garage. One occupant had minor injury.
Units in attendance:
PAF: E-2,3,4,6 T-6 (Joint PA/MV Quint); BS-2; Medic-1; Batt. 6
MTV: E-3, T-1
CNT: Batt. 14
Responding Members: Gundrum (driver), Haag, Green, Dan Wong (guest)
Fire Support Unit Responding: FSU-1
