Saratoga House Fire Brings Fire Associates Response

  

Photo By Bruce Dembecki

At approximately 7:45 P.M. on Friday, April 5, County Fire received reports of a house ablaze at 18565 Aspesi Drive in Saratoga. Arriving units found parts of the building well involved with power wires down around the building and concerns with threats to exposures on two sides of the building. With the multiple issues, and the well-involved nature of the fire, it was quickly determined to handle this incident in a defensive mode and the firefight was made from outside the building.
  
While it appeared there was a knock down, when crews entered the building later there were pockets of active fire which quickly grew, forcing a withdrawal from the building and another switch into defensive mode. The building was well-involved in several sections including the garage (including a parked car), and the rear bedroom. With a switch to defensive mode, the incident was held at a full first alarm.
   
With units on scene for nearly 90 minutes already, and an active firefight underway again, Fire Associates member Bruce Dembecki called County Communications to see if a Fire Support Unit could be useful on scene. The IC quickly responded with a very firm "Yes Please!", and Fire Support Unit 2 was dispatched to the incident.
   
Bruce arrived with FSU 2 around 9:40 P.M., almost 2 hours after the first reports of fire came in, and was met by FASCV members Jerry Haag and Dan Wong. Hazmat 2 had formal rehab set up on the West side of the fire and FSU 2 quickly joined them and provided cold drinks and Clif Bars to weary firefighters.
   
The fire was under control around 10:30 P.M. and units were starting to be released. Support Unit 2 remained on scene providing cold drinks and snacks to firefighters until being released with all but one engine around 11:15 P.M.

• Bruce's photos can be viewed at:  Saratoga Fire

-- Report submitted by Bruce Dembecki