Tier III Wildland Fire in San Jose’s Kelley Park

  

Photo By Bruce Dembecki

Shortly after 9:00 P.M. on  July 10, San Jose Fire dispatched crews to multiple vegetation fires within Kelley Park. The area was along the creek bed and open fields located at the east end of Phelan Avenue off Senter Road.
 
As the fire progressed, with additional alarm levels, John Whiteside went to SJ Station 35 to await an anticipated FASCV dispatch. After hearing the dispatch level go to a Tier III, the usual trigger for Fire Associates, and still no page, John contacted SJ Fire Dispatch to inquire if Fire Associates was to be dispatched. The answer was "Yes", so John notified Sonitrol, our answering service, to page the members. He departed Station 35 with Fire Support Unit 3 at 9:45 P.M. for the short drive to the fires.
   

Photo By Bruce Dembecki

FASCV members Bruce Dembecki and Ron Green (with wife, Barbara) were waiting in Staging and helped John set up. Mike Chappell and guest Walter Huber arrived to assist. Firefighters enjoyed cool water, Gatorade, CLIF bars and our benches for a short rehab. Area lighting was also provided. Quick work was made on the fire using Brush Patrols for mobile attack and engine crews using hand tools. FSU 3 was released about 11:30 P.M. and returned to Station 35.
 
There had been another grass fire in the same area several hours earlier, as well as the day before.

• Bruce's photos can be viewed at:  Kelley Park Fires
   
• A San Jose Mercury News story can be read at:  Multiple Fires in San Jose

 
-- Report Submitted By John Whitedside