2-Alarm San Jose House Fire Requires Extensive Overhaul

   

Photo By Bruce Dembecki

At 5:00 P.M. on Tuesday, April 30, the San Jose Fire Department received reports of a house on fire at 5963 Garces Ave. Arriving units reported heavy smoke coming from the eaves of the building and discovered an exterior trash fire on the "Bravo" side that had spread to the building's interior and attic. The house was under renovation and, other than a single worker who tried to extinguish the blaze, it was unoccupied.
  
Crews went to work on the attic fire but firefighting efforts were hampered by a metal clad roof covering an old shake roof. The flames were eating away on the wooden shake roof while the metal clad covering made access very difficult. With an extended overhaul operation apparent, the IC requested Fire Associates assistance at approximately 5:40 P.M. Shortly after that, a request was made for a second alarm. It became apparent that extra manpower would be needed for the overhaul.
   
Fire Associates member Don Gilbert brought Fire Support Unit 2 to the scene where he was met by FASCV members Bruce Dembecki, John Whitaker and John Whiteside. Cold drinks and snacks were provided, while Bruce and John Whitaker assisted Med 30 with the Rehab Sector to enable Med 30 to focus on his PIO functions.
    
FSU 2 was released from the scene at 8:00 P.M.

• Bruce's photos can be viewed at:  Garces Ave. Fire
    
• John' photos are at:  House Fire

-- Report submitted by Bruce Dembecki