Mobile Home Fire Results in Sunnyvale Fatality

 

Photo rom KTVU2.com

Date and Time: 01-30-2013, 2349 hours Agency: Sunnyvale Fire
Incident Address: 12225 Vienna, Sunnyvale
Type: Second alarm
  
Agency Responders:
SNY: E-1, 2, 5, 6, 60; T-1, 2; R-2; XSC Medic-17; IC-Clifford
SNC and MTV for station coverage
  
Details: Large mobile home. One fatality, one displaced.
   
FASCV Responding Units: FSU-1. Arrived: 0030, released: 0145 hours.
FASCV Responders: Ron Green, Jerry Haag (driver), Dan Wong and guest, Walter Huber.

• A San Jose Mercury News story can be read at:  Woman Dies in Sunnyvale Fire

-- Report submitted by Jerry Haag
 

County Fire Deals with Large Home Heavily Involved

  

Photo From Los Altos Town Crier

Date and Time: 01-30-2013, 0900 hours
Agency: County Fire
Incident Address: 23450 Ravensbury Ave., Los Altos Hills
Type: Second alarm
 
Agency Responders:
CNT: E-1, 2, 7, 9, 15, 16, 17; R-14, 17; HM-2; U-6; IC-Batt. 14 (B/C J. Young), Batt. 2, 3
 
Details: Large, single-story, single-family, frame dwelling. Heavily involved on arrival of Engine 16 which laid own 5-in. supply line and supplied all hose lines.
 
FASCV Responding Units: FSU-4. Arrived: 0920, released: 1245 hours.
FASCV Responders: Larry Carr (driver), Jerry Haag, Ron Green and guest, Walter Huber.

• A Los Altos Town Crier news story can be read at:  2-alarm Ravensbury Fire

-- Report submitted by Jerry Haag
   

Mountain View Fire Calls for Fire Associates

 

Photo from MVFD

Date and Time: 01-28-2013, 0945 hours
Agency: Mountain View Fire
Incident Address: 1639 Spring Street, Mountain View
Type: Second alarm
  
Agency Responders:
MTV: E-1, 2, 3, 4, 5; T-1; R-1; 18-A-1,18-A-3; IC-Batt. 18 (Acting B/C Bond)
PAF: Batt. 6, R-2, BS-2, T-6
  
Details: Small, single-story, single-family, frame dwelling. Heavily involved on arrival of Engine 3. Very heavy fire loading in garage and attached lean-to shed in rear. Close B side exposure saved from damage. Much overhaul needed. Eight persons displaced, including 3 children.

FASCV Responding Units: FSU-4. Arrived: 1015 and released: 1245 hours.
FASCV Responders: Larry Carr (driver), Jerry Haag and guest, Walter Huber.

• A news story from Palo Alto On-line can be read at: Fire Smolders 

-- Report submitted by Jerry Haag
 

House Fire In San Jose Foothills - FASCV's 2nd Fire of the Day

   

Photo By Juan Diaz

At 1520 hours, on Jan. 13, the San Jose Fire Department dispatched a full first alarm to 3854 Higuera Road, between Balcom and Quail Canyon Roads. Located up in the eastern foothills, smoke and flames were reported coming from the shake roof of a 2-story residence. First-in fire units reported visible flames and smoke upon departing their stations. Water supply was a problem as was access.

  

At arrival of the first unit, the roof was completely afire and falling into the upper story. A defensive attack was begun and a second alarm was called as exposures were threatened, along with a small grass fire. San Jose’s 3 water tenders were used to shuttle water to the scene. There was also at least one large-diameter hose lay.

  

FASCV member John Whiteside was monitoring the dispatch and upon hearing the event unfold, realized a Fire Support Unit would probably be needed. He called fire dispatch, asked if the Incident Commander wanted an FSU. The answer was "YES", so John went to SJ Station 35 to drive FSU 3 to the scene. He departed at 1625 and was soon joined on-scene by Jerry Haag, Dan Wong and guest, Walter Huber. This was the second fire response of the day for FASCV members.

  

Med 30 requested meals for 50, so Jerry drove down the hill to pick up the food. The FSU provided coffee, hot chocolate, Clif bars, water, and 2 folding bench sets. Tables and lighting were set up for the meals. The weather was cooling down and the hot drinks were in demand.

 

The FSU was released at 2030 and, after John had restocked the FSU, including potable water in the tank and gasoline for the generator, it was 2150 when he left the station for home.

•  A KTVU2 news story can be read at:  Higuera Rd. House Fire

-- Report submitted by John Whiteside

      

Two-alarm Mobile Home Fire In Mountain View

   

Photo By Bruce Dembecki

On January 13, at 4:56 A.M., Mountain View Communications received reports of a fire in a unit at 191 E. El Camino Real, in the Sahara Village mobile home community. Upon arrival, the Mountain View Fire Department found one unit fully engulfed in flames and that the single resident had evacuated his unit safely. Firefighters quickly worked to extinguish the fire and prevented it from spreading to the surrounding units. The fire investigator was called to the scene and is working to determine the cause and origin of the fire.
   
A second alarm was called. The Mountain View Fire Department was assisted by the Santa Clara County Fire Department, Sunnyvale Fire Department, Palo Alto Fire Department, Mountain View Police Department and the Fire Associates of Santa Clara Valley. The American Red Cross also provided support to the displaced resident.
  
Following the 5:17 A.M. page-out, Jerry Haag responded in Fire Support Unit 1 and arrived at 5:40 A.M. He was met on scene by Fire Associates members Bruce Dembecki, Ron Green and Dan Wong. Temperatures were below freezing in the early hours of the morning and hot drinks were popular. There were a lot of "firefighter mocha" drinkers on this morning, with several firefighters mixing hot chocolate into their coffees. FSU 1 remained on scene providing many hot drinks, and the famous Fire Associates donuts, until they were released at approximately 8:40 A.M.

• Bruce's photos can be viewed at:  Mobile Home Fire

• A San Jose Mercury News story can be read at: Scorched Mobile Home

-- Report submitted by Bruce Dembecki
 

Fire In Milpitas Causes 2nd FASCV Response In A Row To This City

 

Photo By Bruce Dembecki

At a little after 8:00 P.M. on Friday, January 11, Milpitas Fire received a report from a resident at 597 Martil Way that the back bedroom was on fire. First units on scene reported that there was heavy smoke coming from the rear of the house, and began an aggressive fire attack. The back bedroom was fully involved, and the fire was spreading to the hallway. While knock down was achieved quickly, the IC, B/C Rick Frawley, knew there would be considerable overhaul involved and, as temperatures were close to freezing, requested that Fire Associates respond a Fire Support Unit.

The situation inside the single-story house was complicated by the fact that there were three families living inside and there were separate areas for each of them. In all, 9 people were displaced by the blaze and Red Cross was called to assist.

Following the 8:45 P.M. request, Bruce Dembecki had Fire Support Unit 2 out the door of San Jose Fire Station 6 by 9:00 P.M. and on scene in Milpitas a short time later. It was cold on scene and the rain started coming down as FSU 2 arrived, making the conditions even more unpleasant. Fire Associates members Jerry Haag, Ron Green and Dan Wong met FSU-2 on scene and Rehab was established, with a focus on hot drinks - like plenty of coffee and hot chocolate. FSU-2 was released from the scene around 10:30 P.M.

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

-- Report submitted by Bruce Dembecki
 

House Fire In Milpitas Results In A Second Alarm

  

Photo By Bruce Dembecki

Date and Time: 01-07-2013, 1556 hours

Agency: Milpitas Fire
Incident Address: 686 Berkshire Place, Milpitas
Type: Second alarm
Agency Responders:

Milpitas
Fremont

Details: Approximately 1500 sq. ft., single-story, single-family dwelling. Apparent cooking error in kitchen led to fire spread into attic and to roof. Early "heads up" to FASCV members from Bruce Dembecki facilitated prompt response by Fire Associates. Jerry Haag responded to SNC Fire Station 9 and was awaiting a page when the IC asked dispatch for confirmation of response. Page received shortly thereafter.

FASCV Responding Unit: FSU-1. Arrived: 1630, released: 1750 hours.
FASCV Responders: Dembecki, Green, Haag (driver), Hoyt, Wong. Walter Huber and Dominic Smith (guests).

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

-- Report submitted by Jerry Haag

  

Fire Associates Responds to Its First Fire of the New Year

  

Photo By John Whitaker

After responding to a near-record 94 fire calls in 2012, Fire Associates was summoned to it's first call of 2013 on January 6th. Firefighters from the San Jose Fire Department were on the scene of a house fire at 2561 Loomis Drive. John Whiteside responded to the 7:00 P.M. call with Fire Support Unit 3 and was met on scene by FASCV members Jerry Haag, George Hoyt, John Whitaker, Dan Wong and guest Walter Huber.
  
The 2-alarm blaze apparently began in the garage and spread to the attic of the structure. Originally, neighbors reported that the lone occupant of the house was still inside the single-family residence. This prompted the 2nd alarm as crews were having difficulty finding the possible victim. Shortly after the call for additional manpower, the 19-year-old occupant was found outside the home and the operation went from rescue mode to an offensive fire fight. Several fire crews were on the interior preventing further spread of the fire while a truck crew was assigned to the roof for vertical ventilation.
  
Fire Associates established a rehab area near the scene and hot coffee, Gatorade and Clif Bars were made available as the operation wound down. Fire Associates was released by the IC at 9:35 P.M. on a cold and damp winter night.

• John's photos can be viewed at:  Loomis Drive Fire
    
• A San Jose Mercury News story can be read at:  Firefighters Douse Blaze

-- Report submitted by John Whitaker