March 10, 2009 -- 2nd-Alarm Response for Santa Clara County Fire

On Tuesday evening, March 10, Fire Associates was paged at 7:48 P.M. by Santa Clara County Fire to a 2nd-alarm structure fire. Located at 10600 Morengo Drive in Cupertino, the fire involved a single- family home. Jerry Haag responded to the request in Support Unit 1. Jerry has submitted the following report:

Date: 10 Mar. 2009
Time: 1948-Sonitrol Dispatch, 2017-Arrival, 0020-Released
Type: Structure Fire

Details: Single story, single-family, detached dwelling, Eichler-type, occupied. Fire started in a bedroom and spread into roof. Fire as blowing out the window upon arrival of SJS E-15 - first due auto aid. Three residents displaced. Severe exposure on D side which got the first attack line. Minor damage to exposure dwelling, fire building severely damaged. All attack lines from SJS E-15. (2-1-3/4", 1-1-1/2" and 1- 2-1/2"). Water supply through 600' of 5" laid by CNT E-1. Other responding companies were T-1, T-111 running as T-14, E-2, E-7, E-9, HM-2, BS-2 and R-17. IC was B-7 (Steve Prziborowski).

Station 2 Equipment Moves to New Quarters

As many of you know, San Jose's Fire Station 2 is being rebuilt. During the construction period, Sation 2 equipment has been moved to temporary quarters. Engine and Patrol 2 are now housed in a facility on the corner of Alum Rock Ave. and N. Cragmont Ave. Truck 2 is housed in an available bay at Station 34, 1634 Las Plumas Ave.

Now, thanks to long-time FASCV member Pete Rowe, we have photos of the two temporary homes. Pete has provided us with a photo of the station that is being rebuilt, 2 photos of the temporary garage facility on Alum Rock Ave., and a photo of the new Station 34. Click on this link to Pete's photos: Station 2 Photos

Pete also reports, "I spoke with the Engine 2 crew and they said that since Truck 2 now has a LONG run up my way, the Brush Patrol will be staffed with a paramedic. This way, if they are out on a call with the engine, they can break away for medical calls here on the east side. Of course, if I really need a truck, I suppose 16 is my closest."

Located at 2933 Alum Rock Ave., between Capitol and White Rd., Fire Station 2 was built in 1947. It has the distinction of having the highest volume of service calls at any single fire station in San José and, for that matter, the entire County. In Fiscal Year 2004-2005, Fire Station 2 saw 4,007 calls for service.

FASCV Helps Celebrate SJFD's 155th Anniversary

On Thursday, February 26, San Jose Fire Department held a ceremony to honor the department's 155th Anniversary. Begun in 1854, the San Jose Fire Department is believed to be the second oldest paid fire department in the nation. San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed was on hand with other dignitaries to present a City declaration to SJFD Chief Darryl Von Raesfeld.

Fire Associate members were also at the event with an exhibit that showed the 40-year history of our organization. Titled "40 Years of Service to the San Jose Fire Department", the exhibit had a then-to-now theme. Ed Del Prete offered his original FASCV helmet do be displayed alongside today's helmet. Also on display were San Jose Mercury-News news articles from the 1970's describing the group's early days of operation. Spread out around the 8-foot table were photographs of FASCV Rehab operations from the late 1980's until the present. Located on easels behind the display were color enlargements of the FASCV brochure.

Highlight of the FASCV exhibit was our new Support Unit 2. At the request of Batt. Chief Kevin Conant, our rig was prominently parked next to the B1 Command Vehicle directly in front of the station. It received a lot of admiring attention throughout the morning.

John Whitaker's photos of the event can be viewed at: SJFD's 155th Anniversary

February 20, 2009 --- 2nd-Alarm Response for Santa Clara County Fire

On Friday morning, Feb. 20, at 4:04 A.M., Fire Associates responded with Support Unit 4 to a 2nd-alarm fire in Saratoga. The following report was submitted by FASCV responder, Jerry Haag:

Date: 20 Feb. 2009
Time: 0404 Sonitrol Dispatch; 0445 Arrival; 0645 Released
Type: Structure Fire
Size: Second Alarm
Jurisdiction: Santa Clara County Fire
Location: 12746 Cambridge, Saratoga

Details: Single story, single-family, detached dwelling, ranch-type wood-frame. Fire started in a bedroom, spread into attic. Three residents displaced. According to IC, preliminary cause was a candle. All attack lines from E-9 (2-1-3/4" and 1- 2-1/2"). Water supply through one length of 5" from hydrant on fire-side of street. T-5 was Search and Ventilation. E-2 was RIC. Other responding companies were T-1, HM-1, E-17, BS-2 and R-17. IC was B-7 (Kendall Pearson).

Responding FASCV Members: Carr, Haag, Whitaker, Chappell
Unit responding: FS-4

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

New Fire Support Unit Update

Here is the latest information and photos of our new Ford F550 Fire Support Unit.

With the help of former SJFD Asst. Chief John McMillan, the lightbar, control switch box, radio and antennae installation was turned over to the SJFD shop. The work was completed today, Feb. 19, with a BIG thank you to Steve Bilycia, SJ shop communications installer, and Lee Tomita of Tomita Communications, LLC. Steve and Lee are shown in the above photos proudly showing off their work. (To see an enlargement, just click on the above photos.) Also involved in making this happen were shop manager Dan Sunseri and Don Beams, Fleet Manager, City of San Jose General Services Department.

By the way. The presence of the rig at the shop drew the attention of every mechanic there. They were all very impressed with both the quality of the rig and the caliber of the work done to date by Don Gilbert.

The latest word on the graphics application is that True Color Graphics is waiting for delivery of the vinyl material for the lettering. That is supposed to arrive next Tuesday and then the lettering then needs to be cut out to shape and applied to the rig.

The graphics application work probably won't be started until after the SJFD 155th Anniversary Celebration on February 26. That's too bad, but we have to live with it. In any case, the rig will be on display behind SJFD Station 1 during the event.

Three additional photos can be viewed at the following link: New FSU #2

Stay tuned. We're almost there!

February 11, 2009 -- 2nd-Alarm Response for Mountain View Fire

On Wednesday evening, Feb. 11, at 5:58 P.M., Fire Associates responded to a 2nd-alarm fire in Mountain View. The following report was submitted by FASCV responder, Jerry Haag:

Date: 11 Feb. 2009
Time: 1758 - Initial dispatch monitored by Haag and Williams; 1815 - Paged by Sonitrol; 1845 - Support Unit 1 arrival on-scene; 2000 - Released by IC.
Type: Structure fire
Size: Second alarm
Jurisdiction: Mountain View
Location: 288 Church Street

Details: Small single story front apartment attached to two story rear section. Fire started in the living room, trapping sole female occupant in rear bedroom. First arriving company, Engine 1 (Capt. Jeff Cole), made rescue out through a window. Subsequent arriving engine, truck and rescue companies stretched two 1-3/4" and one 2-1/2" pre-connect from Engine 1. Water supply was from a hydrant directly in front of the fire building. Fire was confined to the unit of origin. Unknown number of residents displaced.
Remarks: Apparent cause a kerosene heating device in the living room. Victim transported to hospital Code 3 with smoke inhalation injuries.

Units in attendance: MTV E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, T-1, R-1. Also, PAF Batt. Chief and CNT E-14. IC was Batt. Chief Owen.

Responding FASCV Members: Larry Carr and Jerry Haag
Fire Support Unit Responding: FS-4

A San Jose Mercury News story can be read at this link: Woman Hurt In Fire

February 6, 2009 -- 2nd-Alarm Response for Sunnyvale Fire

On Friday morning, Feb. 6, at 2:00 A.M., Fire Associates responded to a 2nd-alarm fire in Sunnyvale. The following report was submitted by FASCV responder, Jerry Haag:

Date: 06 Feb. 2009
Time: 0110 Sonitrol dispatch prompted by Len Williams call, 0200 Arrival, 0500 back in quarters
Type: Structure fire
Size: Second alarm
Jurisdiction: Sunnyvale
Location: 875A&B Brookline Drive

Details: Small single story duplex with adjacent covered carport, part of a larger complex of similar buildings. Fire started in the car port, burned into two adjoining single-story units. Both units pretty-well destroyed as were 6 cars in the carport. Engine 3 stretched three 1-3/4" pre-connects and a booster line. Water supply was from a hydrant directly across the street. Unknown number of residents displaced.

SNY Units in attendance:
E-3, T-1, E-30, E-4, R-2, E-1, E-40, E-2, T-2
Responding Members: Haag
Fire Support Unit Responding: FS-4

A news report from the San Jose Mercury News can be viewed at this link: "Fire Destroys Sunnyvale Duplex"

January 16, 2009 -- Request from Cal Fire to Morgan Hill

For the third time in the last four responses, Fire Associates again was called to the city of Morgan Hill. Located at 16500 Oak Glen, this time the fire was in a rural part of the city. Responding at 8:13 A.M. to a special request from Cal Fire was John Whiteside in Support Unit 2. He was later joined on scene by John Whitaker and his wife, Liz. Dropping by for a "look-see" was FASCV member Brian Woodson, who was on his way to a nearby jobsite. FASCV member Mike Chappell was on scene early as part of Cal Fire's firefighting effort.

The fire fully involved a 1,200 sq. ft., wood-framed home on the property of a small horse ranch. The single occupant of the residence was able to escape the inferno without injury. Fire crews from Santa Clara County, South County Fire District and Cal Fire responded to the event. Fire Associates provided coffee and cold beverages on a bright, sunny and unusually warm Winter morning. Later, FASCV helped with the distribution of lunch-time burritos for the hungy crews. FASCV remained on scene until being released shortly after 1:00 P.M.

• John Whitaker's photos can be seen at: CNT - Oak Glen Fire
• A Morgan Hill Times news story can be viewed at: Home Totally Destroyed

January 12, 2009 -- 3rd-Alarm Response in Morgan Hill

The arrival of the New Year saw Fire Associates respond to yet another fire in Morgan Hill. Like our Dec. 23rd response, this one was on the West side of town...but, this time, several condos were on fire. Paged by Santa Clara County Fire at 1:50 P.M. to 149 Del Monte, Don Gilbert and John Whiteside responded in Support Unit 2 and were aided on scene by Mike Chappell, John Whitaker and George Hoyt.

The fire was located on the second floor in the middle of the complex. This made access difficult for the fire crews who responded. On scene were rigs from Santa Clara County Fire, South County Fire District, Gilroy and San Jose. Normally, on a Winter afternoon in January, you might think that hot coffee would be the popular choice. But, with temperatures in the mid 70s, it was lemonade and water that disappeared quickly. FASCV members were asked to remain on scene to help serve an evening meal to the overhaul crews. The Support Unit was not returned to quarters until after 7:00 P.M.

• John Whitaker's photos can be viewed at: CNT - 149 Del Monte
• A Morgan Hill Times news story is at: Morgan Hill Condo Fire

December 25, 2008 -- 2nd Alarm County Fire Response

"Twas the night before Christmas..." -- actually, it was the night of Christmas when Fire Associates was paged by Santa Clara County Fire. At 9:55 P.M., on December 25, FASCV was called to a 2nd-alarm fire at 103 Ash Court (anybody see the irony?) in Los Gatos. John Whiteside responded in Support Unit 2 and was met on scene by Don Gilbert and John Whitaker.

The fire severely damaged a home at the end of a long, uphill cul-de-sac. Most of the fire equipment had to be parked short of the fire with firefighters carrying in a lot of the necessary equipment. That was no different for Fire Associates. With the Support Unit parked downhill from the incident, coffee was carried up to the scene in air-pots and water was carried up in an ice chest. With nighttime temperatures in the high 30s, and the wind whipping at an estimated 40 mph, hot coffee was in high demand. Gloves and heavy coats were the garments of choice!

FASCV personnel were on scene until well after midnight.

• John's Whitaker's photos can be seen at: CNT - Ash Court
• A Los Gatos Observer news story is at: "Christmas Night Fire"
• And, ABC7 News has this story: Ash Ct. Fire