Fire Associates Responds to Its First Fire of the New Year

  

Photo By John Whitaker

After responding to a near-record 94 fire calls in 2012, Fire Associates was summoned to it's first call of 2013 on January 6th. Firefighters from the San Jose Fire Department were on the scene of a house fire at 2561 Loomis Drive. John Whiteside responded to the 7:00 P.M. call with Fire Support Unit 3 and was met on scene by FASCV members Jerry Haag, George Hoyt, John Whitaker, Dan Wong and guest Walter Huber.
  
The 2-alarm blaze apparently began in the garage and spread to the attic of the structure. Originally, neighbors reported that the lone occupant of the house was still inside the single-family residence. This prompted the 2nd alarm as crews were having difficulty finding the possible victim. Shortly after the call for additional manpower, the 19-year-old occupant was found outside the home and the operation went from rescue mode to an offensive fire fight. Several fire crews were on the interior preventing further spread of the fire while a truck crew was assigned to the roof for vertical ventilation.
  
Fire Associates established a rehab area near the scene and hot coffee, Gatorade and Clif Bars were made available as the operation wound down. Fire Associates was released by the IC at 9:35 P.M. on a cold and damp winter night.

• John's photos can be viewed at:  Loomis Drive Fire
    
• A San Jose Mercury News story can be read at:  Firefighters Douse Blaze

-- Report submitted by John Whitaker