Sunnyvale DPS Responds to 2-alarm Apartment Fire

  

On Sunday, July 31, Sunnyvale DPS responded to reports of an apartment on fire at 1206 Henderson Ave. in Sunnyvale a little before 3:00 P.M. Arriving units reported flames out the windows of a ground floor apartment, and a second alarm was struck. The fire damaged the front of building units on both the first and second floors, as well as some damage into the attic, before it was quickly contained.

Sunnyvale units handled the first and second alarm, while Sunnyvale called on some Mutual Aid units for station coverage.

Responding units included FASCV Fire Support Unit 1, driven by Bob Gundrum who was accompanied by Len Williams. Bob and Len were met on scene by FASCV members Jerry Haag, David Thompson, Dan Wong, Ron Green and Bruce Dembecki, along with FASCV guest, Walter Huber.

Support Unit 1 was released a little after 4:30 P.M.

• Bruce's photos may be viewed at:  Henderson Apartments Fire 

•  A spectacular video is available on YouTube at:  Spectator Video #1

•  Video continues at this YouTube link:  Spectator Video #2

-- Report and photos submitted by Bruce Dembecki

Multiple-Structures Fire Requires Multiple Alarms

 

At 5:30 A.M. on Saturday July 30th, Santa Clara County Fire Department dispatched units to a reported structure fire at Monterey Highway and Watsonville Rd., just near the Cal Fire Morgan Hill Fire Station. The following report comes from FASCV member Bruce Dembecki:

 

Units from South County/Cal Fire and County Fire responded, and at 5:31 A.M., South County Engine 1 reported they were on scene of a structure fire with a multiple structures fully involved, requesting a second alarm at that time to 15520 Monterey Road. Additional Santa Clara County units were dispatched along with mutual aid units from San Jose and Gilroy. By 6:00 A.M., the page had gone out to Fire Associates to respond a Support Unit, and Don Gilbert was joined in Support Unit 3 by Bruce Dembecki, and they were met on scene by Dan Wong.

Behind the main house, two pool houses and a treehouse, connected to the house with flaming wooden trusses, were fully involved. A good stop was effected by units on scene, preventing spread of the fire to the connected house, or the many surrounding buildings used to store tools and supplies for the owner's hardwood flooring business. Had the 911 call been further delayed, the impact would have been far worse. 

The incident was under the command of County Battalion 12, B/C Salazar, driving his brand new Battalion 12 buggy, which he picked up from the County shop just two days earlier. Coffee and donuts were popular at the early hour, and by mid morning, cold drinks were the order of the day. Support Unit 3 was released at around 10:00 A.M. and made it's way back to quarters at San Jose Station 35.

•  More of Bruce Dembecki's photos can be viewed at:  Multiple-structure Fire

   

FASCV Responds to Palo Alto Grass Fire

   
Date & Time: 28 July 2011, 1526 hours
Agency: Palo Alto
Incident Address: 1530 Arastradero Rd.
Type: Reinforced Wildland Response.

Details: 2 to 3 acre grass fire, one old Live Oak (dead).

Responders:
PAF: E-2 & 8; P-6 & 8; Foothill Patrol-2 & 4; TC-1, Batt. 6 (IC-Broussard)
CNT: R-14; Batt. 14
Woodside: E-8
CDF: Helo 106 & five engine strike team (both cancelled)

FASCV Responding Unit: FSU-1, released at 1700 hours.
Responders: Bob Gundrum (driver), Ron Green and Jerry Haag
   

2nd Alarm Structure Fire in Mountain View

  
26 July 2011, 2229 hours
Agency: Mountain View
Incident Address: 1535 Montecito Ave.
Type: Second alarm.

Details: Two-story, wood-frame, multi-family dwelling. Fire in the roof space.

Responders:
MTV: E-1, 2, 3 (initial attack), 4, 5; T-1; R-1; Batt. 18 (Del Carlo, IC)
PAF: R-2 with Air Support Unit, Batt. 6
MOF: T-6
CNT: E-16 (Station fill)

FASCV Responding Unit: FSU-1, released at 0030 hours, 27 July.
Responders:  Bob Gundrum (driver), Ron Green, Dan Wong, Larry Carr and Jerry Haag
    

San Joe Fire Dispatchers Special-Call for FASCV Assistance

  

Photo by Jacqueline Ramseyer/SVCN/July 25, 2011

At a little past noon on Monday, July 25, San Jose Fire dispatchers made a special call for Fire Associates' assistance. Bruce Dembecki responded in Fire Support Unit 2. Jerry Haag has issued the following report:

Date: 25 July 2011, 1237 hours

Agency: San Jose
Incident Address: 1189 W. San Carlos Ave.
Type: Second alarm, Special request for FASCV
Details: Single-story with basement, wood frame, multifamily dwelling. Fire started in basement.

FASCV Responding Unit: FSU-2, released at 1415 hours.
Responders:  Dembecki and Haag (drivers), Ron Green, George Hoyt, Herman De Kruyff and Walther Huber (Guest)

Bruce drove FSU-2 to the fire, Jerry Haag drove it back to SJFD Station 6.

• A San Jose Mercury News story can be read at: 13 People Displaced by Fire
      
•  Bruce Dembecki's photos can be viewed at:  San Carlos Ave. Fire

       

Second Fire of the Day Brings FASCV Response

        

Photo by Maureen Hunt - Special to The Morgan Hill Times

In the late afternoon on July 21, Fire Associates responded to its second fire of the day. The following report comes from John Whiteside:

This fire was a CAL FIRE State Response Area (SRA) fire within the South Santa Clara County Fire District, located at the end of Liberata Drive, off East Main Avenue, in North Morgan Hill. Voluntary response initiated by John Whiteside.

27 acres, mostly steep hillside, structures threatened. Multi-alarm, multi-agency, immediate need responses. FSU #3 with John Whiteside, Don Gilbert, George Hoyt, and Mike Chappell responding for FASCV. I consider it a 3rd alarm. There were 2 copters, 4 air tankers, at least 4 hand crews, being utilized.

After listening to the radio traffic, time of day, and the multiple agencies dispatched, I went to SJ Station 35, asked Morgan Hill if they wanted a Fire Support Unit, they answered with an emphatic “AFFIRMATIVE”, so I initiated the page. We departed Station 35 about 1745 and were released about 2220 after supporting the feeding of crews at the scene. Supply 1610 brought in 200 burritos. Due to a late morning brush fire in San Jose, some of the Cal Fire engine crews had not eaten since breakfast.

• A Morgan Hill Times news story can be read at:  Brush Fire in Morgan Hill

• John Whiteside's photos can be viewed at:  Cal Fire Incident - Morgan Hill

 

Santa Teresa Grass Fire Is First Event of the Day

    

On Thursday, July 21, a late-morning grass fire caused San Jose Fire Dispatchers to call for Fire Associates help. The fire was located at Heaton Moor Dr. at the intersection with Bernal Rd. The Staging location was at the entrance to the Santa Teresa Golf Course on Bernal Rd. Instead of responding in Fire Support Unit 3 (which is usually housed near the fire's location), Don Gilbert responded in Support Unit 1, which happened to be in his driveway undergoing some upgrades. Support Unit 3 had been temporarily moved to Santa Clara.

Bob Gundrum has submitted the following report:

It was around 11:30 in the morning, FASCV was requested by SJFD as part of their Tier III, which included Cal-Fire.  Turns out the fire was just above some sort of waterway, which placed it in State Responsibility Area (SRA).  I did not hear all the dispatches, so I don't know all the equipment that was sent.  When I got there, no aircraft were being used - if ever used.  Do not remember when we were released, but it was the same time as the last SJFD unit.

 

I was there to return the FSU-3 to it's usual location and pick up FSU-1 which responded from Don's residence.

 

FASCV members in attendance were: Don Gilbert (driver), Mike Chappell, Herman DeKruyff, Bob Gundrum and George Hoyt.

• A San Jose Mercury News story can be read at:  San Jose Grass Fire

  

2nd Alarm Fire in Mountain View

  
20 July 2011, 0016 hours
Agency: Mountain View
Incident Address: 62 West El Camino Real @ Grant Road
Type: Second alarm
Details: Closely parked light trucks at a U-Haul lot. Six trucks heavily damaged or destroyed. Burning magnesium a problem. Some nearby homes evacuated for a short time.

Units present:
MTV: E-1,2,3,4,5; T-1; R-1, Batt. 18 (IC-B/C Owen)
CNT: E-15 (station coverage); T-14; Batt. 14
PAF: R-2 with Air Support Unit (quickly released)

FASCV Responding Unit: FSU-4, released at 0215 hours.
Responders:  Carr (driver), Haag, Green, Wong, Thompson, Chappell (cancelled enroute), Perlita Dicochea (Guest)