Los Altos House Fire Goes to Two Alarms

Date: Apr. 15, 2017
Agency: County Fire 
Incident Address: 615 Casita Way, Los Altos
Arrived: 1638; Released 2000

   
Details:
2-alarm garage fire that moved into the house then up into the second story.
 
Agency Responders: 
County Fire
MVFD
   
Responding Unit: FSU-1
FASCV Responders:
Mike Garcia (driver)
   
-- Reported by Mike Garcia

County Fire Attacks 2-Alarm Los Gatos House Fire

   
Date: 03/23/2017
Agency: CNT (Los Gatos) 

Incident Address: 101 Broadway
Arrived: 06:45 Released 10:00
Type: 2-Alarm House Fire 

   
Details:
Fire in a three-story duplex. Sprinklered building, however it appeared the attic burnt through. At least 7 pots of coffee served.
   
Agency Responders: 
County Fire
 
Responding Unit: FSU-2
FASCV Responders:
Don Gilbert (driver) and Walter Huber
 
-- Reported by Walter Huber

Two-Alarm Fire In Palo Alto Residence

     
Date: March 19, 2017

Requesting Agency: Palo Alto Fire

Alarm Level: Two

Incident Location: 335 Seale Ave, (Zillow shows the only OLD house (1927) on the street as 355 Seale.

Type of Incident: Single-story, private residence.

   

Details: The house was an old Spanish-style, single-story house. The fire seemed to be in the kitchen area, since an announcement was made that all fire staff were to stay out of the kitchen because the floor was collapsing. Quote from IC upon seeing a member of FASCV on scene – “Thank goodness you’re here”

   

FASCV Response: Larry Carr with FSU-4, Mike Garcia and Walter Huber

   

-- Report submitted by Bob Gundrum

3rd Alarm Hazmat Incident In Palo Alto

  

Date:  March 11, 2017

Requesting Agency: Palo Alto Fire

Type: Third alarm hospital building hazardous material fire

Incident Location: 300 Pasteur Ave., Palo Alto

   

Details: Fire was in a room containing hazardous material at the Stanford Medical School, Edwards Building. The fire was reduced by the sprinkler system, but required fire responders to use chemical fire extinguishers to completely extinguish the fire when there was a chemical reaction to the water initially used.  

   

Responding Fire Agencies: Palo Alto (PAF), Sunnyvale (SNY), Moffett Field (MOF), Santa Clara County (CNT), Menlo Park (MPK), and Santa Clara (SNC).

    

FASCV Response:

Larry Carr, Mike Garcia, Walter Huber, and Dan Wong with FSU-1 and FSU-4

    

Report submitted by Larry Carr

Palo Alto Cancels 2nd Alarm Commercial Fire

 
Date: March 10, 2017
Agency: Palo Alto Fire
Incident Address: 855 El Camino Real
Type: 2nd Alarm Commercial Fire (cancelled)
 
Details: Single-story, Town & Country style strip mall. Fire in water heater room of Jamba Juice. 2nd alarm canceled before we got to Station 9 to pick up FSU-1.
 
Agency Responders:
PAF, MTV, and CNT
   
FASCV Responding Unit: FSU-1 (Canceled before personnel arrived at station)
FASCV Responders:  Mike Garcia and Walter Huber (Driver).
    
Report submitted by Walter Huber

Early Morning San Jose Callout

   
March 5 at 01:00 hours, San Jose Fire paged Fire Associates for support at an incident involving swiftly moving Coyote Creek and a potential victim. The location was in William Street Park, near Senter Road and Keyes Street. The situation had been dragging on for over 6 hours, with the USAR 34 Swift Water Rescue units and other San Jose Fire and Police units on scene. The temperature was in the 40s, it was raining, so hot drinks and snacks were requested.
   
John Whiteside responded to take Fire Support Unit 2 from SJS Station 6. He was met by Don Gilbert and they departed SJS Station 6 around 01:50 hours. Almost immediately the radio traffic indicated SJ units were being released and Fire Associates were cancelled. Members Walter Huber and Dan Wong were also enroute to the scene.
   
At the same time, San Jose dispatched a full 1st alarm (2 BCs, 3 engines, 2 trucks, 1 squad) to 2820 Leigh Avenue at Mesita Way, a short drive from Station 6. John advised Dispatch they planned to drive to the fire area. The fire, in a one-story duplex, escalated to a 2nd alarm, which was then cancelled as those units arrived on scene. Walter and Dan also arrived at the fire scene. Water, Gatorade and CLIF bars were provided to the fire fighters. FSU-2 was soon released with Don and John arriving at their respective homes around 0445 after restocking the rig.    

Fire Associates Responds to Yet Another Flood Area

   
Date: Feb. 21, 2017
Dispatch: 20:45
Location: Williams and 22nd Streets, San Jose
Type: Multiple Flood Rescues
FASCV Response: FSU-3, Dembecki

Details: After completing meal service at the Oakland Road incidents, SJFD units were working yet another flood incident covering multiple blocks in the area of Williams and 19th streets. Multiple rescue boats were working the incident and traveling up and down normally dry streets evacuating residents. Fire Support Unit 3 brought approx 40 meals to the Williams Street incident at around 21:00. While rescue efforts continued the meals were popular and FSU-3 was released soon after 10:00pm.
 
Report submitted by Bruce Dembecki

FASCV Responds To Second Flood Area In San Jose

 
Date: Feb. 21, 2017
Dispatch: 16:13pm
Location: 1350 Oakland Road, San Jose
Type: Multiple Flood Rescues
FASCV Response: FSU-2, Gilbert, Whiteside and FSU-3 Dembecki
Released 20:45
 
After a busy morning and afternoon, San Jose Fire personnel were presented with continuing flood problems along the Coyote Creek. Having finished a search of the properties in the Nordale area and evacuating more than 200 people, San Jose Fire moved on to a series of problems at several mobile home parks along Oakland Road. Three parks were put under mandatory evacuation orders as the flood waters along the Coyote Creek threatened to overwhelm the barrier walls protecting the parks. Along with minor flooding, several people required rescue and removal by flood boat during the evacuation.
   
Fire Support Unit 2 along with drivers Don Gilbert and John Whiteside responded directly from the earlier incident, while Bruce Dembecki brought FSU 3 to the scene along with fresh supplies.
   
Fire Associates was tasked with acquiring and serving 65 meals… The local Togo’s closed their doors so they could work on meeting our needs. Meals were served to Fire, Police, Parks, and PG&E personnel involved in the evacuations. After dinner, the evacuations were completed and the parks were handed over to the PD to provide security.
   
FSU-2 and a weary John and Don were released at 20:45 and sent home after a long, long day. FSU-3 was dispatched to provide additional meals at a third flooding location.
   
Report submitted by Bruce Dembecki

Fire Associates Called To Aide San Jose Food Response

 
Date: Feb. 21, 2017
Dispatch at 10:37am
Location: San Jose's Nordale neighborhood - Phelan & Senter Roads
Type: Multiple Flood Rescues
FASCV Responders: FSU-2, Gilbert, Whiteside
   
Details: San Jose Fire called Fire Associates looking for assistance with meals for an ongoing rescue operation in the Nordale neighborhood, near Kelley Park. The Coyote Creek had flooded and was flooding multiple homes and apartments. San Jose responded with multiple rescue boats and were working to evacuate residents.
   
The nature of the flood meant the floodwaters were contaminated wth raw sewage, fuel and oil from flooded vehicles, and assorted chemicals picked up in various homes and garages. This meant as well as evacuating the residents it was important to decontaminate the residents who had been exposed to the flood water.
   
San Jose worked to evacuate over 200 residents by boat. Meanwhile Fire Associates were setting up to provide rehab to the first responders working the scene. Setting up a rehab facility across the street from the incident in the lobby of the Fire HQ building proved advantageous, and our helpers throughout the day even included San Jose’s Fire Chief Jacobson.
 
Don Gilbert and John Whiteside responded to the scene with Fire Support Unit 2, stopping en route to collect the first 40 meals, along with a supply of donuts and coffee. Setting up Rehab in a downstairs conference room gave our first responders a higher than normal comfort level, and good access to bathroom facilities. Of course having been wading through chest deep water across the road they all had to decontaminate before entering Rehab.
   
As the event dragged into the afternoon a second food run was made to bring in another 40 meals for hungry first responders. Once the primary search had been completed of all the residences in the impacted neighborhood units were released to additional flood areas around San Jose. With FSU-2 being dispatched to an ongoing operation on Oakland Road at around 16:15.
 
Report submitted by Bruce Dembecki

Los Gatos Condo Fire Goes to 2 Alarms

   
Date: Feb 5, 2017
Requesting Agency: County Fire (CNT).
Incident Location: Los Gatos, Unit 120k, at dead-end of College Terrace Court at College Ave. Near Main Street/Hwy 17, southwest of downtown, uphill above Hwy 17.
Type: 2-alarm; plus SJS for 2 engines, station coverage.
   
Details: Continuous rain, downhill walk into the scene at a Multi-unit condo structure fire with narrow street access. Fire unit at ground level, only feet from parked engines. Hydrant within complex. Per IC, we only provided water, Gatorade and CLIF bars. Fire in attic, thought to have originated from fireplace. Contained to single, end unit.
 
FASCV Response: FSU-2, John Whiteside (driver), Mike Garcia, Walter Huber, and guest Christian Sevilla. Departed SJS Station 6 at 19:20, released 20:40.
   
Report submitted by John Whiteside

2-alarm House Fire In Palo Alto

 
Date: Dec. 30, 2016
Agency: Palo Alto Fire
Incident Address: 2126 Louis Ave
Type: 2-alarm House fire 


Details:
Single-story, older Eichler-style home. Fully involved upon arrival. Initially unable to confirm if all occupants were out, only one occupant made it out with no injuries. Heavy B side exposure with two cars involved in the attached carport. 2nd alarm called and firefighters initiated a new “nozzle forward” mode of attack. 4 pots of coffee, snacks were served.
 
Agency Responders: 
PAF
MTV
CNT
MOF

FASCV Arrived: 0530 Released: 0800
FASCV Responding Unit: FSU-1
FASCV Responders:
Mike Garcia (driver), Walter Huber, Larry Carr
 
Reported by Walter Huber

FASCV Provides Support At Sunnyvale Apartment Blaze

   
Date: Nov. 17, 2016
Agency: Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety
Incident Address: 516 N Mathilda Ave.
Arrived: 0010; Released 0200
Type: 2nd Alarm
   
Details:
Small 2-Story complex with fully involved first/floor apartment unit.
   
Agency Responders: Sunnyvale
   
FASCV Responding Unit: FSU-1

FASCV Responders: Larry Carr, Mike Garcia, and Walter Huber (driver)
 
-- Report submitted by Walter Huber

FASCV Provides Rehab Support at Gas Leak

   
On Friday, Nov. 14, at approximately noon in the area of Park and Sunol in San Jose FASCV received a Special Call for a major natural gas problem.
   
FSU 1 driven by Walter Huber and FSU 2 Driven by Don Gilbert responded. FASCV provided meal pickup and rehab for about 5.5 hours.
   
A contractor's backhoe ruptured a 6” high-pressure natural gas line while at the same time the backhoe also ruptured a sewer line. This caused the underground sewer line system to become charged with natural gas over a large geographical area.  This required the evacuation and sealing off of a large area covering several city blocks.
   
Once the natural gas was shutdown, it took a period of time to purge the gas from the sewer system and allow for a size reduction of the evacuation zone. When PG&E started to make repairs to the 6” pipe, a 4” gas pipe was located that had to be neutralized before the 6” repairs could be started.
  
-- Report submitted by Don Gilbert through Bob Gundrum

FASCV Members Respond to 3-Alarm House Fire

 
San Jose Fire responded to a 3rd alarm blaze at 3253 Ensalmo Avenue, cross of Hillsdale Avenue. FSU-3 responded for Fire Associates with Don Gilbert, John Whiteside, Teri Costentino, and Walter Huber providing support.

The blaze gutted a single-family house with some damage to houses on both sides.
    
-- Report submitted by Bob Gundrum

Fire Associates Supports Fire Academy

 
Date: Oct. 12, 2016
Agency: Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety 
Incident Address: 795 E Arques Ave.
Arrived: 0830; Released 1500
Type: Special Call
   
Details:
FSU-1 provided support for JFA 16-2 Fire Academy

Agency Responders: Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Boulder Creek, Scotts Valley

FASCV Responding Unit: FSU-1

FASCV Responders: Mike Garcia, Bob Gundrum, Walter Huber (driver), and Dan Wong
   
-- Report submitted by Walter Huber

Campbell RV Fire Goes to Two Alarms

    

On October 8, Santa Clara County Fire answered a 2nd alarm at ‪202 W. Rincon Ave‬, cross of Salice Way, in Campbell.

   

FSU-3 with Don Gilbert and John Whiteside, were cancelled by radio upon departure from SJS Station 6. The call was for a ully involved RV in the yard of a house.

   

-- Report submitted by Bob Gundrum

Late September House Fire Taxes Crews in the South County

 

Friday, September 30 at 4:54 A.M., Morgan Hill CalFire received reports of a house fire in the hills west of town. This was located in the South Santa Clara Fire District, at 2880 Tohara Way. This is in the area off of Sycamore Drive, west of Watsonville Highway. 

   

The woodlands are tinder dry, and the fire danger is HIGH! Consequently a high initial dispatch of 18 engines, 9 being wildland engines, 4 water tenders, 2 hand crews and 4 Chiefs was made. Fire units from San Jose, Gilroy and Morgan Hill City were also part of the dispatch.

      

The single-story house was located near the deadend of Tohara Way, with no nearby hydrants. Water was trucked in to the scene. At 6:17 A.M. Fire Associates was paged to respond with a Fire Support Unit and John Whiteside took FSU-3 about 30 miles to the scene. Benches, donuts, hot coffee, water, Gatorade, and Clif Bars were provided the remaining crews. John was released around 9:00 A.M. The house was gutted.

     

Several of the responding wildland rigs from other CalFire units were covering vacant stations around Morgan Hill. A 4,300+ acre vegetation fire has been burning since September 26 in steep inaccessible terrain about 10 miles northwest of this house. A large base camp had been set up in nearby Gilroy, about 10 miles south, and some 2,000 personnel are involved. The morning of this fire, there were 179 engines, 34 water tenders, 32 dozers, 61 hand crews, and 22 helicopters and air tankers assigned to the “Loma” vegetation fire.

   

— Report submitted by John Whiteside

Fire Associates Supports South County House Fire

 

Thursday night, Sept. 8, at 11:50 P.M., Morgan Hill Cal Fire, which also staffs the Morgan Hill City Fire Dept and the South Santa Clara County Fire District, dispatched units to a house fire at 14840 Columbet Avenue in San Martin, cross street of East Middle Avenue, in the fire district. Arriving units reported fire from the rear of the structure, 50% involved. All occupants were out, but the structure was the home of an organization that shelters rescued dogs. Almost a dozen dogs were lost, but 4 were saved with resuscitation.

    

Fire units from the District, Cal Fire, Morgan Hill City, and Gilroy responded to the scene while San Jose provided 2 engines to cover open stations. Eight (8) engines, 2 water tenders, 1 ladder truck and 2 Battalion Chiefs were involved in the fire attack.

    

At 12:25 A.M. Friday morning Fire Associates was paged for support. John Whiteside and new member Walter Huber met at San Jose Station 35 to take Fire Support Unit #3, while Bill Roth went to the scene. Lighting, bench seating, water, Clif bars, Gatorade, donuts, and coffee were provided and much appreciated by the fire fighters.

FSU-3 was released at 04:03 A.M.

— Report submitted by John Whiteside

4-Alarm Blaze Destroys San Jose Storage Units

 
On Saturday, August 27, at a few minutes past 9:00 P.M., San Jose Fire received calls for smoke coming from a unit in a very large complex of Public Storage buildings. The location was 925 Felipe Avenue at the dead end off Olinder Court and Story Road. This location is almost underneath the bridges at the junction of Highway 101 and Interstates 280/680.
 
San Jose dispatched a full first alarm at 9:06 P.M., and initial attacking units reported a car fire within a unit in the middle of a large, L-shaped building.
   
The fire soon spread to adjacent units and a second alarm was requested. Master streams were soon put into service and a third alarm was requested. At 10:31 P.M. Fire Associates was paged and Don Gilbert and John Whiteside responded with Fire Support Unit 2. They were met on-scene by Mike Garcia. While FSU-2 was enroute, the fire escalated to a fourth alarm with a Mutual Aid structure response from Santa Clara County, Milpitas, and Santa Clara City fire departments.
 
However, the en route fourth alarm rigs were cancelled when the smoke coming from the other leg of the L-shaped building was found to be only drift smoke from the main fire. A great effort contained the fire damage to several units centered on the initial fire site.
   
Donuts, water, Gatorade, Clif bars and coffee, along with bench seating were very much appreciated by the exhausted fire fighters. FSU-2 was released at 3:05 A.M. and returned to quarters. A few fire crews remained on scene through the next day to completely extinguish the fire.
   
-- Report. Submitted by John Whitesite

FASCV Called to Vegetation Fire Near Uvas Dam

 
On Friday, August 12, CAL FIRE Morgan Hill received many, many calls reporting a fire west of Morgan Hill in the area of the Uvas Reservoir. Smoke could be seen from CAL FIRE Headquarters.
 
At 3:12 P.M., a high-level dispatch was initiated and ultimately included over 30 engines, 3 dozers, 4 hand crews, 3 air tankers, 2 copters, and an air attack coordinator. Fire Associates was also requested for Rehab. Other fire agencies included: San Jose, Santa Clara County, Felton, and Monterey CAL FIRE who all sent equipment.
 
Due to the steep terrain, air tankers were used to slow the spread of the fire by surrounding it with retardant and protect houses threatened by the blaze until ground crews could access the location.
 
Fire Associates member John Whiteside, on CAL FIRE Volunteer in Prevention (VIP) duty in the Emergency Command Center, put on his FASCV cap and responded in his POV with drinks and ice while Don Gilbert was preparing Fire Support Unit 2 in San Jose to respond to the support request. Rehab was set up in a vacant lot near Fell Court and Uvas Road. FA was released at 8:50 P.M. The fire was contained at 15 acres.
   
-- Report Submitted by John Whiteside