2-alarm Response for Milpitas Fire Dept.

Photo By Bruce Dembecki

   
On Saturday afternoon, April 30, at 3:18 P.M., the Milpitas Fire Department called for FASCV's assistance. This time, it was for a house fire at 198 Evergreen Way. Don Gilbert responded in Fire Support Unit 2. He was joined by Dan Wong and Jerry Haag in Support Unit 1. Bruce Dembecki has submitted the following brief report:

Of note in this fire, the fire spread from the second story to the attic, and then into the wood shake roof. This roofing was left in place when a new metal roof was installed. While fire crews got a quick knock down on the interior fire and the attic fire, they couldn't get to the fire burning heavily in the shake roof material. Ultimately, it was a slow and labor-intensive job to remove the newer roof so that firefighters could access to the shake roof and the fire.

• Bruce's photos can be viewed at:  Milpitas House Fire

Sunnyvale Fire Results in 3-alarm Response

Photo by Craig Allyn Rose

  
On Wednesday, April 20, Sunnyvale firefighters needed Fire Associates help at a 3-alarm apartment fire. FASCV President, Bob Gundrum, responded in Fire Support Unit 1. He was joined on scene by FASCV members Jerry Haag, Ron Green, Bruce Dembecki, George Hoyt and Len Williams. Jerry has submitted the following report:

Date: 20 April 2011, 1541 hours
Agency: Sunnyvale
Incident Address: 234 Buena Vista
Type: Third-alarm, two-story, non-sprinklered, multi-family, wood-framed apartment building with wood roof.
Details: Fire apparently started in kitchen on first floor, spread to second floor and got into roof. Flying brands endangered wood roofs to the "C" side. One fatality.

Units Attending:
SNY: Engines-1, 2, 3, 30, 4, 5, 6 and 60; Trucks 1 and 2; Rescue-2; Medic 8; Batt. 2 (IC-Chetcuti)
MTV: Station backfill
SNC: Station backfill
  
FASCV Responding Unit: FSU-1, released at 1830 hours
Responders: Gundrum (driver), Haag, Green, Dembecki, Hoyt, Williams, David Thompson (guest), Walther Huber (guest)

• Craig Allyn Rose's photos can be viewed at:  Sunnyvale Apartment Fire

•  A San Jose Mercury News article can be read at:  Fire Results in Fatality

2nd-Alarm House Fire in Palo Alto

   

Photo By Bruce Dembecki

On Saturday morning, April 16, Fire Associates help was needed by the Palo Alto Fire Department. FASCV member Larry Carr responded in Fire Support Unit 4, his personal Rehab-equipped RV. FASCV Vice President Jerry Haag has submitted the following report:

Date:  16 April 2011, 0530 hours
Agency:  Palo Alto
Incident Address:  588 Madeline Ct., cross of Curtner Ave.
Type:  Second alarm. Small, single-story, duplex dwelling.

Units Attending:
PAF:  Engines-2, 3, 4, 5 and 6; Truck-6; Rescue-2; Medic 1; IC-Captain Conn
MTV: Truck-1, Batt. 18

FASCV Responding Unit: FSU-4, released at 0845 hours
Responders: Larry Carr (driver), Jerry Haag, Ron Green and Bruce Dembecki

•  Bruce Dembecki's photos can be viewed at:  Palo Alto Fire

FASCV Responds into Milpitas for House Fire

 
At 8:24 P.M. on Tuesday, April 5, the Milpitas Fire Department made one of its infrequent calls for Fire Associates help. Arriving fire crews found a house at 442 Murray St. almost fully engulfed in flame. FASCV President, Bob Gundrum, and Vice President, Jerry Haag, responded to the 2-alarm fire in Fire Support Unit 1. They were met on scene by FASCV members Ron Green and John Whitaker with Mike Chappell also arriving to help.

Because the narrow, residential street was filled with fire apparatus, the Fire Support Unit was not able to get close to the action. It was necessary to hand-carry tables, ice chests, portable benches and food supplies to a driveway located adjacent to the involved structure. Grateful fire crews were glad to have a place to sit and rest, as this structure followed the recent pattern of a house filled with "stuff". Arriving Milpitas crews made a good stop, saving the house immediately to the west of the scene from any serious damage. Fremont Fire apparatus was called in on the Mutual Aid alarm, but was able to stay in Staging before returning to quarters.

Details of the fire can be read in the following link to an article in the San Jose Mercury News. As you read the article, be sure to notice the rare reference to a response from Fire Associates. Pretty cool!

• Read an article in the SJ Mercury News:  Milpitas Home Gutted

• John Whitaker's photos can be viewed at:  Milpitas House Fire

Bryan Stow Fundrasing Efforts

  
The following is an open letter to Fire Associates with additional information posted at this website:

             www.Support4Stow.blogspot.com

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Dear Members of Fire Associates of Santa Clara Valley,

Unfortunately it is in a time crisis when I am composing this email. As many of you may already know, Paramedic Bryan Stow was brutally attacked on Thursday night in Los Angeles while leaving Dodger Stadium. Bryan and I worked together as Paramedics and field training officers at AMR.  

We are setting up multiple fundraising events and volunteer opportunities to help ease the burden on his family. We are having a BBQ at our main headquarters 1670 Las Plumas, San Jose (next to SJS Station 34) on Wednesday, April 6, from 1200-2000

I was asked by my coworkers today if I had any contact with groups or individuals who could help us with fundraising and or volunteer time. The first group that I thought of was Fire Associates. After calling my father for a phone list, I immediately contacted your President Bob Gundrum to see if your organization can help. After speaking with him briefly, he instructed me to send out an email to the general membership. As a kid, I watched my father and your members so frequently donate their time, money, and support to those in need.

Your organization's support would be greatly appreciated in this time of need. We all would appreciate any and all support your members and your organization could provide. 

Please feel free to contact me jhwilliams4@gmail.com with any questions you may have regarding this matter. However, our main point of contact on this is Daniel Franklin, Operations Manager at AMR. His contact information is, Daniel.franklin@amr.net, and his phone number is 408-590-4222. See below for information on upcoming events and ways to donate and help. 

Sincerely,

      Joe Williams IV
      Paramedic, QLC 
      American Medical Response 
      Santa Clara County
      Cell: 650-924-0452
      E-mail: jhwilliams4@gmail.com 

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BBQ Volunteers Needed !!!

 

Go to  BBQ Volunteers  for information and details on how to volunteer. 

 

Please Help!

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Donations
  

As of right now donations are being accepted at the BBQ and via paypal.  A trust is being set up and will be finalized by Tuesday.  I will send a follow up email regarding the specifics of the trust if anyone would like to help with that.  

 

Paypal: StowDonations@gmail.com