Condo Fire Continues String of Structure Fires In San Jose

  

Photo By John Whitaker

Thursday, Jan. 9, had already been one of the busiest days in Fire Associates' history when, at 5:52 P.M., San Jose Fire Communications dispatched a Full First Alarm to a report of a townhome on fire. Engine 22 arrived at 6:00 P.M. and reported that 2 condos were fully involved. Engine 28 requested a 2nd Alarm at 6:02 P.M. The address was 1100 Trevino Terrace, near the intersection of Camden Ave. and Almaden Expressway.
  
With a large fire spanning the dinner hour, Fire Associates members knew help would be needed at this incident -- their 4th fire of the day! Bruce Dembecki responded to San Jose Fire Station 6 to pick up Fire Support Unit 2 and left for the scene by 7:00 P.M. He was joined on scene by Fire Associates members John Whitaker and Dan Wong. Meanwhile, John Whiteside went to Fire Station 35 and picked up Fire Support Unit 3 and set about sorting out a dinner plan. While FSU-2 set up Rehab and worked to rehydrate the fire crews, FSU-3 made the much-anticipated "Togos run" for sandwiches.
 
The incident was declared under control at 8:09 P.M. One townhome was destroyed and 2 others damaged. In addition, one Firefighter was transported to a local hospital for treatment of exhaustion. Fire Watch continued throughout the night.
  
The Fire Support Units were released from the scene at 9:00 P.M. With three significant events in San Jose alone on this day, FSU-2 needed to make a supply run to pick up water and Gatorade from Fire Station 30, before being put to bed in Fire Station 6 at 9:45 P.M.

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

•     Bruce Dembecki's photos can be seen at:  Trevino Fire

-- Report submitted by Bruce Dembecki