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Early Tuesday morning, December 4, Santa Clara County Fire paged FASCV to 16035 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd. in Los Gatos. Don Gilbert answered the 1:58 A.M. request in Support Unit 2 and was met by George Hoyt and John Whitaker. The fire involved a house that had been converted into the "Peppertree School of Los Gatos" -- a daycare and preschool facility.
FASCV rehab operations were set up adjacent to County Hazmat 2 and were conducted in a routine fashion -- until the rain arrived! The easy-up shelter was quickly deployed and served to keep the firefighters, coffee and donuts dry in the inclement weather. FASCV was released at approximately 5:00 A.M.
John Whitaker's photos can be seen at this link: CNT - Peppertree School.
The San Jose Mercury News story can be read at: SJ Merc-News.
On Saturday morning, December 1, the Gilroy Fire Department requested FASCV's help at a 3-alarm fire at a cardboard box factory on the city's south side. John Whiteside and Don Gilbert responded to the 3:51 A.M. page in Support Unit 2. They were met by FASCV members John Whitaker and Mike Chappell. The fire was located at 6791 Alexander Street, Gilroy.
The fire was burning in 20-foot-high stacks of rolled, brown, craft paper. The stacks and stacks of paper were used in the manufacturing of corrugated cardboard shipping boxes. Approximately 300 rolls of paper burned through the morning hours and into the afternoon. Because of the densely pack material, fire crews had to keep the paper doused with water as forklifts busily unstacked the rolls. Every time a roll was moved, or water stopped flowing, flames would erupt. Fortunately, fire crews were able to used the company's break room has a rehab area as the morning temperatures dipped before the 40-degree mark just before sunrise.
Upon arrival, FASCV members provided donuts and coffee and then delivered and served 45 breakfast meals from a local restaurant. The Support Unit was released shortly before noon.
The fire was just one of 3 suspicious fires the erupted in Gilroy during the early morning hours. Flames also were doused at a local Ford dealership and a new, city sports complex. All fires were being investigated as possible arson.
John Whitaker's photos can be seen at this link: Gilroy Fire. The San Jose Mercury-News story can be read at: "Three Fires Battled".
On November 27, at 11:45 P.M., FASCV was paged by the San Jose Fire Department to a 4-alarm fire. The fire involved a large, single-story, Victorian structure located at 580 N. 5th Street, in the Japantown district of the city. John Whiteside brought Support Unit 2 and was met my John Whitaker and George Hoyt, who were already on scene.
First-arriving fire crews had to rescue three occupants of the 100-year-old structure. Eight others escaped unharmed. Unfortunately, the fire resulted in the death of another resident of the boarding house whose body was not found until hours after the fire had been controlled.
John Whitaker's photos of the event can be viewed at this link: SJS 4-Alarm Fire. News stories and video can be viewed at: NBC11 Video and SJ Mercury-News.
John Whiteside was on scene until 5:00 A.M, when he was released by the IC.
However, a little over 3 hours later, Support Unit 2 was back at the fire in respose to a special request. Truck crews had to remain on scene throughout the morning as Arson, Homicide and Coroner's Department personnel sifted through the buildings rubble. John Whitaker responded to the 8:30 A.M. call and was joined later in the morning by FASCV members Ed Del Prete and Rick James. FASCV provided the usual morning donuts, coffee and water an later served 45 sandwiches, chips, drinks and cookies.
Support Unit 2 was finally released at 1:30 P.M.
The December issue of "The Embers" is now available on line.
Once again, our December 6th monthly meeting will be a Christmas holiday gathering. The party will be held at the historic Santa Clara CalTrain Freight Depot, 1005 Railroad Ave., Santa Clara. This is the home of "The South Bay Historical Railroad Society" and their model railroad layouts will be up-and-running during the evening. Ice cream and cake will be served. Meeting time will be 7:30 PM and family and guests are invited.
Special guest for the evening will be retired San Jose Deputy Fire Chief John McMillan. Chief McMillan is currently the president of the San Jose Fire Museum and we have asked him to come and give us a short presentation on the group's activities as well as the status of negotiations with the City of San Jose to obtain the old fire Station Number 1 building.
If you would like to join the group for dinner, call Paula Holcomb. Some members are meeting at La Paloma Restaurante, 2280 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, at 5:45 P.M.
Please come and enjoy the evening!
On Saturday night, November 10, at approximately 23:46, FASCV was requested for a 2nd-alarm fire at 2490 Martin Ave. in the city of Santa Clara. Len Williams and Jerry Haag responded in Support Unit #1.
Len has submitted the following report:
It was in a carpet sales place on Lafayette, near Martin, with, as you easily
can imagine, an incredible fire load.
Briefly, SCFD made a great stop and saved about 90% of the bldg. and the
inventory. However, now that I think about it, a lot of inventory probably
has little retail value left because of smoke damage.
It rained the entire time, although it was a low-volume steady rain, as
opposed to a gully-washer.
I was back home, and in bed, by around 2:00 a.m.
The November, 2007 issue of "The Embers" is now available on line.
The FASCV monthly meeting for November will be held at the San Jose Fire Department's new Station 33. This is San Jose's new station location at the top of Communications Hill. Captain Brad McGibben of "B" Shift will be our host.
A feature of the evening will be a tour of the new quarters and, if so desired, a walk-around of Engine 33. This is one of San Jose's newest engines. Previously, our visit to SJFD Station 16 also included a walk-around of their new engine (a twin to Eng. 33), but some members were not in attendance. Should be an interesting evening.
As a reminder, Captain McGibben points out that there is not much parking atop "The Hill". There is limited space behind the station, and failing that, we are on our own to try to find street parking. It is strongly advised by Captain McGibben that individual members try to coordinate some carpooling options.
The station is located at 2933 St. Florian Drive, San Jose, CA and the meeting will begin at 7:30 PM, on Thursday, November 1st.
On Sunday, September 30, at 15:58, FASCV responded as part of a combined San Jose Fire/Cal Fire Task Force to a Tier 2 grass fire in the city's eastern foothills. Your "Blog Master", John Whitaker, responded to Station 26 from the scene of the earlier industrial fire in Santa Clara. Taking Support Unit #2, John was met in staging by FASCV members Herman DeKruyff and George Hoyt - both of whom responded from the earlier fire. Mike Chappell also arrived on the scene at the intersection of Aborn Road and Murillo Avenue. The fire was burning in the hills between Murillo Ave. and Lazy Lane.
Firefighters made an amazing stop on the advancing flames, as several homes were directly in the fire's path. Thanks to a lot of hard effort, all were saved. Support Unit #2 was requested by the IC to meet up with San Jose's Med30, take all on of his Gatorade supply, an then go up and down a very steep and narrow Aborn Road "hitting targets of opportunity." As usual, grateful firefighters expressed their appreciation that FASCV was on the scene. Support Unit #2 was released from the fire at 19:00.
News accounts of the fire can be found at this link: NBC11.com
John Whitaker's photos can be seen at: SJS - Aborn Rd. Fire
-- Information provided by John Whitaker
On Sunday, September 30, at 12:47, FASCV was requested by Santa Clara City Fire to a fire at 735 Reed Street, near Lafayette, in the City of Santa Clara. Bob Gundrum responded in Support Unit #1. It was not difficult for responders to find their way to the inferno. A dark black smoke column could be seen from throughout the Valley. A list of the FASCV responders to the fire would read like a "Who's Who" of the organization's membership. No fewer than 9 members were on scene!
Support Unit #1 was a key component of the rehab location. The fire sent off acrid smoke and strong fumes that were caused by some electronic recycling components that caught fire in a lot just outside the ESC company warehouse and an adjoining auto wrecking yard. Because of the fumes, rehab was full of tired firefighters who had been wearing full breathing apparatus.
For a news story of the event, click on this link: NBC11 News
Photos from John Whitaker and Bob Gundrum can be found here: SNC - Industrial Fire
-- Information provided by your "Blog Master", John Whitaker
Early Tuesday morning, December 4, Santa Clara County Fire paged FASCV to 16035 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd. in Los Gatos. Don Gilbert answered the 1:58 A.M. request in Support Unit 2 and was met by George Hoyt and John Whitaker. The fire involved a house that had been converted into the "Peppertree School of Los Gatos" -- a daycare and preschool facility.
