Sunday, October 4, 2015

4-Alarm Fire Causes Severe Damage to San Jose Strip Mall

   
Photo By Craig Allyn Rose
On Sunday morning, October 4, reports of a fire were called in to San Jose Fire dispatchers at 2:45 A.M. The blaze was burning at a large, block-long strip mall called the Caribbees Center. Located in south San Jose, the main focus of the fire was in the Cho Senter Market - a large, Vietnamese-themed, grocery store at 2889 Senter Road. This area of Senter Road is located between Umbarger and Lewis Roads.
     
Within minutes, the alarm level was upgraded to 3 alarms and at 3:00 A.M. Fire Associates members were paged to respond to the structure fire. Not long after that, another page stated the fire was at a 4th alarm!
   
Fire Associates member Don Gilbert responded with Fire Support Unit 2 at 3:18 A.M. Don set up Rehab on Senter Road across the street from the fire scene. Here, FASCV members could take care of the firefighters on the “Alpha” and “Delta” sides of the fire. At 4:25 A.M., John Whiteside responded with FSU-3 and met Don on scene. At the request of Med 30, John positioned FSU-3 on Lewis Road at Hunken Drive, 2 blocks away from Don. From this location, he could handle firefighters on the “Charlie” and “Bravo” sides. Soon after John set up the second Rehab site, FASCV member Mike Garcia arrive on scene to assist.
   
Photo By Craig Allyn Rose
Four aerial ladders were flowing water and at least 3 stangs/monitors were also employed. Parts of the parking lot became flooded due to blocked drains and there were concerns some businesses, not affected by the fire, might have water intrusion.
   
Lots of coffee, drinks, donuts, and Clif bars were consumed. Both support units were released at 9:25 A.M. and returned to their respective quarters. 
  
San Jose Fire units were still on scene Monday morning. From some overheard radio traffic, fire units from Milpitas, Santa Clara, and Santa Clara County covered San Jose stations during this event.
-- Report submitted by John Whiteside  
Posted by at