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

FASCV Responds to Palo Alto for 2-Alarm Fire

Shortly after 1:00 P.M. on Thursday, Jan. 9, Palo Alto Fire Department requested the assistance of Fire Associates. Firefighters were working a structure fire at the intersection of Laguna Ave. and Barron Ave. They called for a second alarm, and resources came from Mountain View Fire and Santa Clara County Fire Department.

Fire Support Unit 4, a converted camper van owned by FASCV member Larry Carr, responded to the incident in an area known as the Baron Park neighborhood!

Meanwhile, Fire Support Unit 2 remained on scene with 5 engines and 6 truck companies at San Jose's 5-alarm fire on 28th St. In addition, Fire Support Unit 1 was on site at a "live fire" training exercise with County Fire in Cupertino in a few minutes.

Busy day around here!

-- Report from Fire Associates Facebook Page

5-Alarm Blaze Engulfs Huge San Jose Warehouse

 

Photo By Craig Allyn Rose

As fires go, this was big!
   
San Jose firefighters were just wrapping up operations at a previous blaze on S. 17th Street, when reports came in that a warehouse was on fire near downtown. Located near the intersection of N. 28th Street and E. Julian Street, the first-arriving Truck Company quickly called a second and  third alarm -- all in the same radio transmission. That was a clue that this was going to be a long morning.
    
The fire was burning in a partially abandoned warehouse. Firefighters estimated that the building was approximately 80,000 to 100,000 square feet in size. By the time the first 3 alarms of equipment were on scene, the building was totally involved and threatening a row of nearby homes. In addition, there was an adjacent private school and other assorted warehouses, sheds, and small office buildings. To say that this provided a challenge would be an understatement.
    
Arriving with the first wave of firefighters was Fire Associates' Fire Support Unit 2. Don Gilbert was driving with John Whiteside as a passenger. Arriving with FSU-2 was John Whitaker in his personal vehicle. These FASCV members had been on scene of the earlier house fire 11 blocks away on S. 17th Street. Eventually, FASCV members on scene included: Don Gilbert, John Whiteside, John Whitaker, Dan Wong, George Hoyt, and Bob Gundrum.

Photo By John Whitaker

Once on scene, John Whiteside jumped out to scout out the area for a Rehab location. It was obvious that there was no immediate need for Rehab as every available firefighter on scene was actively involved with putting water on the blaze.
   
Rehab was eventually located adjacent to the Battalion 2 vehicle where chiefs were beginning to gather. The original IC site was located closer to the fire on Wooster Ave., but it was soon moved to the Battalion 2 location at the intersection of Wooster Ave. and E. Julian Street as the fire grew in size. Additionally, exploding propane tanks made the move to a site further away more prudent.
    
By the time the fire fight was at its peak, 5 alarms had been called and there were at least 6 aerial ladders pouring water on the structure. Reports on scene said that the warehouse was still partially occupied with roof tile, sheetrock and plumbing companies, as well as a hay barn, but a large portion was vacant. The operation was totally defensive from the start as the building was quickly collapsing into a burning pile of rubble. Fire apparatus and/or personnel joining the battle from other departments included the City of Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, and Gilroy.
    
As Fire Associates members were waiting in the IC area for the first firefighters to arrive in Rehab, they began to look for other ways to contribute. As the chiefs were trying to get a handle on the layout of the fireground, using hand-drawn maps to try and describe the area, John Whitaker "called up" Google Maps on his iPhone and offered it to the IC. Using that resource, the fire operations officers were able to get a much better handle on the physical layout of the area.
   

Photo By John Whitaker

At about that same time, a light mist of rain began to fall, making the horizontal whiteboard table on the back of the Battalion vehicle almost useless. Water and ink on whiteboards gets to be pretty messy.  John asked the chiefs if the FASCV "E-Z Up" awning would be of help, and the quick reply was, "YES!" The awning was quickly erected and the whiteboard was back in service. It was well into the event before the SJFD Incident Command Van arrived on scene and was put into use.
    
Rehab operations were slow to start, but once it got going, pots of coffee, water, Gatorade and Clif Bars were flying off the shelf! With 5 alarms of firefighters on site, Rehab became a very busy place. A guesstimate of the number of pots of coffee brewed would be impossible! As lunch time rolled around, a SJFD courier arrived with bags and bags of Togo's sandwiches which were all served by Fire Associates to tired and hungry crews.
    
FSU-2 remained on scene until the last of the embers were extinguished. Rehab was broken down and FASCV members released at approximately 3:00 P.M.

• John Whitaker's photos can be viewed at:  Warehouse Inferno
     
• Craig Allyn Rose's photos can be viewed at:  28th Street Blaze
    
• A San Jose Mercury News story can be read at:  Massive 5-Alarm Fire
     
• And, a KRON TV4 video of the blaze can be seen at:  Warehouse Fire Video

-- Report submitted by John Whitaker

Downtown San Jose House Fire Starts A Rash of Jan. 9th Responses for FASCV Members

    

Photo By John Whitaker

At approximately 4:00 A.M. on Thursday, Jan. 9, Fire Associates members were paged to a fire burning in the Naglee Park residential neighborhood. Located east of San Jose State University at 123 S. 17th Street, the fire was burning in a classic, old craftsman-style home. Firefighters from all over the downtown area arrived on the scene to find the front porch totally engulfed and the fire spreading rapidly. Initially, the residents were unaccounted for, so primary search operations were put into effect. Eventually, fire crews found the occupants in the rear yard of the property, having escaped out the back of the structure.
    
Firefighters had a tough time suppressing the blaze as the heavy wood timbers used in the home provided a lot of fuel for the blaze. Once the fire was under control, a lot of overhaul was required as the two-story home had been severely damaged.
   
Don Gilbert responded to the scene in Fire Support Unit 2 with John Whiteside. Upon arrival, they were met by FASCV member John Whitaker who had already met up with SJFD's Med30 supervisor. Rehab had been set up in the front yard of a neighbor's home and a formal rehab scenario was already in progress. Med30 had totally run our of fluids for the exhausted firefighters, so FSU-2 replenished his supply. FSU-2 also provided scene lighting as truck companies were released back into service.
     
But, just as fire crews were being released to return to quarters, news of another fire called them back into action.
   

It was approximately 5:40 A.M. when a warehouse caught fire 11 blocks to the northeast of this fire. FSU-2 was quickly released by the 17th Street IC to respond to the new blaze. A column of smoke from that fire was already visible in the early morning darkness!
   
A report on this second major fire of the morning can be read in another post in this blog page.

• John Whitaker's photos can be viewed at:  17th Street House Fire

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

-- Report submitted by John Whitaker

New Years Eve Vegetation Fire Not A Surprise During Dry Year

   
On Tues., Dec. 31, at approximately 7:15 A.M., John Whiteside was having a cup of coffee when FASCV President Jerry Haag called about radio traffic dispatching a fire on Mt. Hamilton, east of San Jose. The fire was reported to be  several miles west of the Lick Observatory on Calif. Hwy. 130. John knew a controlled burn was being planned, so he called Cal Fire dispatch to inquire if this was that fire, or something. In addition, he wanted to know if  Cal Fire VIPs or Fire Associates would be requested. The answer was, “A wildland fire, 40 acres with a potential of 200”, and please respond Fire Associates!"
  
John informed Jerry of the request as both FASCV members were scheduled to support a continuing County Fire training exercise that afternoon. Jerry told John to take the fire call and he would handle the training exercise. John’s personal vehicle was in the shop, so he called member Don Gilbert to inform him, ask if he could go, and would he pick John up at home? Then, John notified Sonitrol to page out the dispatch. En route to San Jose Station 6 to get Fire Support Unit 2, they picked up breakfast to eat en route -- a trip of approximately 23 miles, on a curvy, hilly road. The fire was located within Joseph Grant County Park, 2 miles east of the main entrance.
    
Cal Fire’s Morgan Hill headquarters had dispatched a response at 5:27 A.M., eventually including air tankers, copters, dozers, hand crews, engines, and requested mutual aid engines and water tenders from San Jose, Spring Valley Volunteers, and Santa Clara County Fire Departments. Most of the forest fire stations have been closed for the winter.
    
After distributing drinks to the rigs on Mt. Hamilton Road, FSU-2 was directed to enter the fire area at Twin Gates Trailhead (about 1 mile west of Cal Fire Station 12, Smith Creek) and proceed off-road to the head of the fire -- now no longer a threat. On a hilltop near the Command Post, rehab was set up and supported lunch distribution at approximately 2:00 P.M. FSU-2 was released and reached the valley floor around 4:00 P.M. Upon FSU-2's arrival back in San Jose, the on-duty fire crew at Station 6 voluntarily washed the rig, which was covered with a fine-powder dust.

This was the last run for 2013.

• Photos by Don Gilbert can be viewed at: Vegetation Fire

    
Resources that were requested or on scene (from Cal Fire - Morgan Hill):

• Cal Fire:  Battalions 1600, 1605, and 1611; Prevention 1621; Captain 1632; Engines 1661, 1662, 1664, 1666, and 1681; CZU Engines 1766, 1768, and 1769; Ben Lomond Crews 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5; CZU Dozer 1741; BEU Dozer 4641; Copters 104 and 406; and Air Tankers 80 and 81.
    
• Spring Valley Volunteers:  Chiefs 1 and 2; Engines 22 and 52; and Patrol 22.
     
• San Jose Fire:  Battalion 2; Engines 2, 18, 13, and 31; and Water Tenders 2, 13, and 18.
    
• Santa Clara County Fire:  Engines 301 and 306.

-- Report submitted by John Whiteside

House Burns In Rural Area of Morgan Hill

  

Photo By Bruce Dembecki

At 3:15 A.M. on Sunday morning, Dec. 29, Morgan Hill Fire received reports of a house ablaze at 324 Casa Loma Road in an unincorporated area of Morgan Hill. Responding units included South Santa Clara County Fire, Morgan Hill Fire, Cal Fire, and San Jose Fire Units.
 
The home owner had been awoken by functioning smoke detectors and upon a search of the home found downstairs was clear, but upstairs was somewhat smokey. Outside, they discovered a chimney fire and set about attacking the fire with a garden hose. They quickly realized the fire was out of control and evacuated, finding pets and getting out, while calling 911. Fire units making the trek out to Casa Loma Rd. discovered a two-story residence fully engulfed in flames.
   
Water Tenders were used to establish a water supply from a hydrant back at the Cinnabar Hills Golf course while engine crews worked to keep the fire out of the vegetation and nearby exposures safe. The home was completely destroyed, with nothing more than the original chimney and half a wall here and there remaining.
    
Fire Associates were requested shortly before 5:00 A.M. and were on the road shortly thereafter. John Whiteside brought Fire Support Unit 3 to the scene and was met by Bruce Dembecki. Coffee and donuts were the order of the day, as temperatures were in the low 30s upon arrival of FSU-3. Fire Associates remained on scene until the night crews were replaced by a fresh shift to oversee the mop-up operations, and were released soon after 9:00 A.M. Fire Associates left the fireground at 9:20 A.M. and FSU-3 was back at San Jose Fire Station 35 by 10:00 A.M.
    
Thanks to the home owners functioning smoke detectors, no-one was injured, though there was nothing left of the house.

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

-- Report submitted by Bruce Dembecki

Christmas Eve Fire Involves Commercial Building in Sunnyvale

   

Photo By David Thompson

Date and Time: 12-24-2013, 0706 hours
Agency:  Sunnyvale Public Safety
Incident Address: 222 Caspian Dr., Sunnyvale
Type: Second Alarm
   
Details: Fire in roofing material of a sprinklered, single-story, tilt-up, large commercial/R&D Building.
   
Agency Responders:
SNY: E-1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 60; T-1, 2; R-2; Batt. 1 (IC-Rushmeyer)
MTV: Station fill
SNC: E9 covered SNY Sta. 2
  
FASCV Responding Units: FSU-1. Released: 0815 hours.
FASCV Responders: Bob Gundrum (driver), Jerry Haag, and Dan Wong.

• A San Jose Mercury-News story can be read at:  Office Bldg. Blaze

 
-- Report submitted by Jerry Haag

Quick Attacked Douses 2-Alarm Apartment Fire In San Jose

  

Photo By Bruce Dembecki

After a full day on scene with San Jose Firefighters for their Typhoon Haiyan fundraiser event, Fire Associates member Bruce Dembecki had just finished restocking the ice in the Fire Associates freezer at Fire Station 6 and was ready to head home around 4:30 P.M. when the Station bells went off. Engine 6 and others were dispatched to a report of a multi-unit apartment building on fire at 892 Delmas Ave.
 

While Engine 6 rocketed out the door, Bruce took a couple of minutes to load some ice back into Fire Support Unit 2 and casually headed off to the nearby fire ground. Truck 30 reported a large column of smoke visible from their fire station, and Engine 3 quickly reported themselves on scene, with heavy smoke on all sides of the building and flames shooting out of the second floor windows on both sides of the buildings. Additionally, they reported the exposure on the Bravo side was at risk and immediately requested a second alarm.

   

Photo By Bruce Dembecki

Bruce let San Jose Fire dispatchers know that FSU-2 was attaching to the incident and unusually arrived on scene - well before the second alarm units. After checking in with Med 30, it was decided that FSU-2 would establish informal rehab on the south side of the incident and cold drinks, seating, and snack foods were quickly set up for fire crews. Fire Associates member John Whitaker also responded to the scene, having heard the initial radio traffic and being aware that FSU-2 was on scene.

   

Firefighters were able to quickly knock down the fire, but not before 17 people were displaced by the fire - fortunately no one was injured. Crews enjoyed the cold drinks over in Rehab and at 5:40 P.M. FSU-2 was released from the scene and returned to Fire Station 6.

• Photos by Bruce Dembecki can be seen at:  Delmas Ave. Fire
     
• A San Jose Mercury News story can be read at:  Residents Displaced

-- Report submitted by Bruce Dembecki

Location of Los Altos Hills Fire Provides Challenge for Firefighters and FASCV Members

 
Date and Time: 12-19-2013, 1716 hours
Agency: Santa Clara County Fire Dept.
Incident Address: 26060 Newbridge Dr., Los Altos Hills
Type: Second Alarm
 
Details: Fire in a large, 2-story, single-family dwelling. Well-involved upon arrival of R-14 who laid a 5-in. supply line up a long, steep driveway to initiate fire attack. FASCV member Larry Carr and company also hand-jacked table, ice, water, Gatorade, energy bars, etc. up the same driveway to set-up Rehab. The old guys can still hack it!
 
Agency Responders:
CNT: E-1, 3, 7, 15, 16, 17; T-1; R-14 (fire attack with 3 2-1/2" lines), 17; Batt. 2, 3, 14 (IC-Bowden)
 
FASCV Responding Units: FSU-4. Released: 1930 hours.
FASCV Responders: Larry Carr (driver), Jerry Haag, and Dan Wong.

• A news story from the losaltos.patch.com can be read at: 2-Alarm House Fire

-- Report submitted by Jerry Haag

Sonitrol Services Help FASCV Provide 44 Years of Aid to Local Fire Departments

    

FASCV President Jerry Haag and Vice President Bob Gumdrum present
Don Herzig of Sonitrol an award of appreciation for the dispatching
services the local security company provides.

Photo By John Whitaker

In November of this year, Fire Associates of Santa Clara Valley (FASCV) celebrated 44 years of providing volunteer service to the fire departments of Santa Clara County. Begun in November of 1969, the members of FASCV have been meeting the on-scene canteen and rehab needs of firefighters from all 12 fire agencies located in Silicon Valley. For a non-profit agency to be in existence for 44 years is an achievement all by itself, never mind that fact that our volunteer members have been responding 24/7, in all types of weather conditions.
  
But, besides the organization's dedicated members, and the many people who donate to the cause, there is another key, unsung member of the team.
   
Sonitrol - Pacific West Security, Inc. has been providing dispatch services to FASCV since 1980 when former FASCV member Al Brenner arranged for the company to provide free emergency dispatching for FASCV as a community service. Sonitrol is a locally owned, independent franchise affiliated with the Sonitrol Corporation based in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. The company maintains offices on Schallenberger Rd. in San Jose for alarm sales, installation, and monitoring.
   
To recognize the value that Sonitrol adds to the efforts of Fire Associates, FASCV President Jerry Haag, Vice President Bob Gundrum, and former President John Whitaker recently presented the security company with a plaque of appreciation. The plaque reads, "Awarded to Sonitrol of Silicon Valley for Service to Fire Associates of Santa Clara Valley Since 1980, December 6, 2013."
   
Accepting the award was Sonitrol Central Station Manager Don Herzig. Don commented that all the employees at the San Jose office were glad to provide the service to Fire Associates because of the importance of FASCV's service to local fire departments.

-- Report submitted by John Whitaker