John MacDonnell Memorial Announcement

The following is a compilation of two e-mails received by Fire Associates detailing plans for Chief MacDonnell's memorial service:

Chief John MacDonnell passed away during the overnight hours of December 6, 2007 at his home. Chief MacDonnell will be remembered for his 43 years of professional devotion to the Fire Service. John, began his career in the summer of 1964 with the California Division of Forestry, (then) later served with the Orange County and Santa Barbara County Fire Departments.

He then moved from pubic service into private industrial fire protection, and later served as Fire Chief for both United Technology Corporation and the NASA Ames Fire Department at Moffett Field. John was also an instructor for First Contact 9-1-1 and helped with the development of their dispatcher training program.

A memorial will be held in Chief MacDonnell’s honor at 10:00 A.M., Friday December 14, 2007 at St. Victors Catholic Church located at 3150 Sierra Road, San Jose, CA 95132.

Information:

Lynne Engelbert

SECTEK, Inc

650-604-3112

or

Steven Kelly

Fire Chief, NAFD

650-604-6953

John's family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations should be made in memory of John MacDonnell to the Fire Associates of Santa Clara Valley, Inc.

Fire Associates of Santa Clara Valley, Inc.

455 S. Mathilda Ave.

Sunnyvale, CA 94086

For those of you who may not be familiar with the important support function that the "Fire Associates" regularly provides to all Santa Clara Operational Area fire agencies, here's some cogent information about them.

The Fire Associates of Santa Clara Valley, Inc. is a volunteer, fire buff organization that since 1969 has staffed and maintained multiple fire support canteen vehicles which respond to multiple-alarm fires and other emergency incidents at all hours of the day and night (and in all types of weather!) - as well as to major drills and exercises - throughout the Santa Clara Operational Area supplying hot and cold beverages and related rehab supplies to firefighters and emergency responders.

Over the years (actually, several decades!), the "Fire Associates" unfailing and enthusiastically provided canteen services at the annual Santa Clara County "Wildfire" wildland fire readiness exercise. For many years, this exercise was delivered at and hosted by United Technologies Corporation' s site south of San Jose, where, as you know, John served as Fire Chief for many years as well as a guiding force within the Santa Clara County Fire Chief's Association in the exercise's sustainability and growth - which, in later years, included considerable participation by San Mateo and Santa Cruz Operational Area fire agencies.

Thus, there is both this professional and personal nexus between John and the "Fire Associates."

Please contact me directly at if you have any questions:

Herb Jewell, CFPS

Deputy Fire Marshal

NASA/Ames Fire & Emergency Services Branch

NASA/Ames Research Center

M/S 158-1; 158 Carroll Drive/Room #202;

Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000

650/604-2024

Herb.R.Jewell@ nasa.gov.

January, 2008 Meeting Site Announced

The monthly meeting of Fire Associates for January, 2008 will be held at Milpitas Fire Department's Station No. 3. Located at 45 Midwick Drive, Milpitas, 95035, the station is basically sits on the corner of N. Milpitas Blvd. and Midwick.

Highlight of the evening will be a walk-around of Patrol 3. Although not brand new, this rig is less than one year old and probably has not been seen by many of our members. Attendees are advised to bring folding chairs as we will have to hold our meeting on the apparatus floor.

-- Thanks to Milpitas Fire's Battalion Chief Scott Brown for making these arrangements.

Chief John MacDonnell -- 1946-2007

Former UTC Fire Chief Passed Away On Dec. 6.

Former United Technology Corporation (UTC) Fire Chief John MacDonnell has passed away at the age of 61. Over his career, he was a good friend of Fire Associates. Many of our members will remember coordinating FASCV support at the Live Wildland Fire Training that John arranged annually at UTC. He will be missed by all those involved in the fire service of Santa Clara County.

Additional remembrances by those who knew him can be found at this link: www.firstcontact911.com.

December 5, 2007 - 2nd-Alarm Milpitas Response

On Wednesday morning, December 5, FASCV was paged by the Milpitas Fire Department. The 7:15 A.M. page was for a 2-alarm mobile home fire at the Mobilodge of Milpitas, 1515 N. Milpitas Blvd. Jerry Haag responded in Support Unit 1 and was met by John Whitaker.

Located in space 134, the older-style, small doublewide unit was a total loss. Fortunately, the owners were awakened by the barking of their dog as no smoke detector was installed. The fire was burning in the curtains of the front room as the couple escaped with few belongings. The heroic dog was lost in the fire. FASCV was released at approximately 9:30 A.M.

John's photos of the event can be seen at this link: MIL - Mobilodge.
Be sure to check out a mention of our Support Unit in this "Milpitas Post" news report: "Mobile Home Loss...".

December 4, 2007 - 2nd-Alarm Los Gatos Response

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.

December 1, 2007 - 3rd-alarm Gilroy Response

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".

November 27, 2007 - 4-alarm San Jose Response

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 Embers" - December 2007

The December issue of "The Embers" is now available on line.

December Meeting Will Be A Party! -- With Special Guest

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!

November 10, 2007 - 2nd-alarm Santa Clara Response

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.