At 1:56 A.M., on Jan. 20, when everyone else was warm and cozy in bed, Fire Associates responded to a request for help from the San Jose Fire Department. A fire had broken out in a duplex at 162 Bendorf Drive. It was a cold, windy and rainy night when Don Gilbert responded in Support Unit 2. He was met on scene by John Whitaker.
The fire had broken out in the rear of the duplex and residents scrambled out into the night. One unit was fully involved when the first-due firefighters from Station 18 arrived. Fire Associates was special-called to the two-alarm incident because of the worsening weather conditions. Hot coffee and Clif Bars were served to the firefighters, while hot chocolate was provided to the children of the displaced residents.
Support Unit 2 was released back into service at approximately 3:30 A.M.
- An ABC7 news story can be read at: Two-alarm Duplex Fire
- John's photos can be viewed at: SJS - Bendorf Duplex Fire
