Fire Associates Responds to 3-Alarm Condo Fire

   

Date:  September 14, 2011
Type:  Structure Fire
Size:  3-Alarm
Jurisdiction: San Jose Fire Department
Location:  2358 Bear Valley Lane, San Jose
 

Response Unit:  FSU-2

Responding Members: Bruce Dembecki, John Whiteside, George Hoyt, Don Gilbert, Jerry Haag and Walter Huber (Guest)
  

At 3:30 on Wednesday September 14, FASCV responded to a multi-alarm fire burning through an apartment complex on Bear Valley Lane in San Jose. Arriving firefighters were confronted with active fire through the roof of a 2-story residential structure, and quickly discovered the garage building for the units was also ablaze.

As the fire started to run the building's attic space, Incident Commander B/C 1B Robert Sapien requested a third alarm, which initiated the automatic FASCV response. John Whiteside and Bruce Dembecki responded to Fire Station 6 to pick up Fire Support Unit 2 and headed to the scene. They were met on scene by FASCV members Don Gilbert, George Hoyt and Jerry Haag, along with guest Walter Huber.

On this warm afternoon, firefighters went through large amounts of water, Gatorade and lemonade in a busy Rehab section.

• An article from Firehouse.com can be read at: 3-alarm Response
  

  
-- Report Submitted By: Bruce Dembecki
   

Palo Alto Fire Asks for Fire Associates' Assistance at "Explosion"

   
A peaceful Tuesday evening was interrupted by the sound of an "explosion" at a Palo Alto apartment complex. Initially responding to the incident in his personal vehicle was FASCV vice president Jerry Haag. He was joined later by Larry Carr in Support Unit 4 who responded to a page for help from Palo Alto Fire.

Jerry has submitted the following report:

Date & Time: 13 September 2011, 1930 hours. Sonitrol page at 1958.
Agency: Palo Alto Fire
Incident Address: 2727 Midtown Court, Palo Alto
Type: 2nd alarm, quickly cancelled, followed by special call for Fire Associates response.
Details: Vigorous chemical reaction of swimming pool chemicals with resulting release of chlorine gas, various early reports included “explosion” and “smoke seen”. All residents of a large apartment complex were evacuated. Jerry Haag initially provided water at Medical for evacuees and treatment personnel, and then firefighters were served by FSU-4. Small number of victims transported to Stanford Hospital with symptoms of choking, vomiting.

Responders:
PAF: E-1, 4, 5; R-1; T-6; Medic 1, 2, IC-Batt. 6 (Broussard)
3 County EMS ambulances;
Responding Support Unit: Initial voluntary response by Haag in own POV, followed by Larry Carr in FSU-4 after Sonitrol page. Released at 2200 hours.
FASCV Responders: Larry Carr (driver), Jerry Haag, Dan Wong and Ron Green with Barbara Green (guest)

•    A San Jose Mercury News story can be read at:  Explosion Rocks Apartment

 

Trench Rescue Necessitates an Extended Operation

In the late morning on September 12, Santa Clara County Fire personnel were called to a rescue operation in Saratoga. Located at 12370 Radoyka Drive, a construction worker was trapped in a trench that had been dug next to a home's foundation. Suspecting that the rescue would require an extended operation, FASCV member Bruce Dembeki called fire dispatchers to see if FASCV could be of assistance. The response was, "Yes!"

While Bruce went to get Fire Support Unit 2, Ron Green, George Hoyt, Dan Wong, Don Gilbert and John Whitaker reponded to the scene. Rehab was set up in a shady driveway several doors down from the incident. FASCV provided lemonade, cold beverages, Clif Bars and a place to sit down on a warm, summer afternoon. As the event moved into it's third hour, Ron Green and John Whitaker were tasked with ordering and delivering 50 Togo's sandwiches from a nearby store.

The incident proved to be a very complicated effort. The trench had been dug right next to the house foundation where a worker was looking for the source of a leak in a recently-built basement. While in the trench, the dirt collapsed and he was buried up to his neck. Firefighters quickly called for a City of San Jose Vacon truck that was able to suck up the loose dirt. Conventional digging was just causing more dirt to fall into the narrow trench. The worker was eventually hauled out on a backboard with block and tackle rigging hung from below the basket on Santa Clara County Fire Truck 1.

• John's photos can be viewed at:  Trench Rescue
   

• A San Jose Mercury News story can be read at:  Man Buried Neck-deep

   

Fire Associates Supports SJFD's 9/11 Memorial

  

On Sunday morning, September 11, members of Fire Associates provided coffee and beverages to those attending the 9/11 Memorial ceremony at SJFD's Station No. 1. Bruce Dembecki, Ron Green (with Barbara) and John Whitaker (with Liz) all attended the event.

Bruce Dembecki arrived with Fire Support Unit 2 at approximately 10:30 A.M. and set up a coffee service area inside the vacated apparatus bay at Station 1, located at 255 N. Market St. Ron Green assisted Bruce with the set up and helped to make sure a fresh pot of coffee was always available to the 1,000-plus attendees. While John Whitaker was also on hand to help with the set up, his primary activity centered around supporting the San Jose Fire Museum - a co-sponsor of the event. John's volunteer efforts with the Museum lead to his production of the 12-page program for the day's activities.

A highlight of the ceremony was a display of 343 pairs of turnout boots arranged in front of the podium at Station 1. Each pair of boots, signifying public safety personnel who lost their lives 10 years earlier, was tied together with a black ribbon and the name of someone who gave their life. A small, American flag was also placed in each boot.

Hosted by former newscaster Rigo Chacon, the event's speakers included: William McDonald, Fire Chief, SJFD; Christopher Moore, Chief of Police, SJPD; Chuck Reed, Mayor, City of San Jose; Dave Cortese, President, Board of Supervisors, Santa Clara Co.; and Nora Campos, Assemblymember, San Jose. The keynote address was presented by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren.
 

"Slow" Month for FASCV Ends with Gas Explosion in Cupertino

"Here is what I found burning upon arrival." - Bob Gundrum

Date & Time: 31 August 2011, 1245 hours 

Agency: Santa Clara County Fire Incident Address: 20299 Northwest Square, CupertinoType: With both CNT and SNY in attendance, a constructive 2nd alarm.
 

Details: Two-story, single-family, townhouse-style occupied condo. Reported as an "explosion" later found to be due to leaking natural gas. Heavy damage to the building. Engine 1 first in, own 5" supply line from close hydrant. Held to unit of origin. One small dog rescued. Final extinguishment was delayed while PG&E clamped-off underground gas lines serving the building.

Responders: CNT:  E-1, 2, 9; R-17; T-1; HM-2; IC-Batt. 14 (Pearson), Batt-2 SNY:  E-3, 4, 30; T-2, Batt. 1

FASCV Responding Unit: Voluntary response by Haag in own POV. Upon contact with IC ordered response from FSU-1. Released at 1630 hours.

Responders: Bob Gundrum (driver), Jerry Haag, Ron Green and Walter Huber (guest)

• San Jose Mercury News story:  Blast Rocks Home

 

FASCV Makes Donation to Burn Foundation

   

  
Fire Associates of Santa Clara Valley recently made a cash donation to the Alicia Ann Ruch Burn Foundation. The $100 donation was made by members of Fire Associates during the Mountain View stop of the recent Alicia Ann Ruch Burn Relay.

The Burn Relay is a procession of current and antique fire apparatus that travels "Code 3" up the San Francisco Bay Penninsula collecting monetary donations a various stops along the way. Like years past, this annual event was a great success, garnering the support of the Bay Area’s finest fire departments and other agencies. The 2011 relay began at Moffett Field and traveled north to the San Francisco Fire Department's Division of Training site. FASCV was proud to participate in this year's relay with Fire Support Unit 1 taking part in the procession as far north as the Santa Clara/San Mateo County line.

The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation (AARBF) is a California-based nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing burns and fires and providing services to those who have been affected by a burn injury. AARBF brings together health care providers, firefighters, emergency workers, burn survivors and others to enhance the quality of life for burn survivors and to make burn injuries a thing of the past.

At age eight, Alisa Ann Ruch was fatally injured in a backyard barbecue accident in Southern California. Bravely using their tragedy as a catalyst for change, Alisa Ann’s parents, local firefighters and medical professionals joined together and created AARBF in 1971 with the goal of preventing burn injuries by teaching Stop Drop and Roll.
 

Former Fire Support Unit Gets New Life

  

  
Fire Associates' former Fire Support Unit 2 must be part feline - it seems to have 9 lives.

In the early 1990s, this vehicle served as a Santa Clara County Vector Control unit. Then, it was donated to Fire Associates and, after some custom modification by member Don Gilbert, became a part of the organization's FSU fleet. In May, 2009, it was donated by FASCV to the San Jose Fire Museum (see this link) and, now, it has been transformed into a fleet service vehicle for the Museum.

Thanks to some work by San Jose Fire Museum Fleet Manager Randy Perez, the 1990 Dodge Power Ram is not only part of the Museum's historic collection, but it now does double duty as the Museum's road service vehicle.

Randy says, "This vehicle is perfectly suited to our needs. When we take one of our antique vehicles on the road, we usually need an additional vehicle to tag along behind the antique rig as safety support. This former FSU is big and red and has the bonus of rotating, amber warning lights."

It should be noted that the rig also has a 5,000-watt generator for power equipment and plenty of storage compartments for tools that might be needed in case an antique rig has a breakdown on the road. And, because of its towing capacity, the new service truck can pull a trailer for hauling several of the smaller rigs in the Museum's collection. All of these are capabilities that the Museum didn't have before the donation from Fire Associates.
 

Fire Associates To Take Part In "2011 Burn Relay"

  
On Thursday, August 18, Fire Associates of Santa Clara Valley will join in on the "2011 Burn Relay" benefiting the Alicia Ann Ruch Burn Foundation. FASCV Vice President, Jerry Haag, reports, "FASCV President, Bob Gundrum, and I will join the parade in FSU-1 and go as far as Palo Alto. We will stay in service. During the relay, FASCV will present a donation check to the burn foundation. The presentation will be made at the Mountain View stop (Fire Station 1 on S. Shoreline at Dana)."

An informational flier can be viewed at this link:  2011 Burn Relay

A description of the route can be read at:  2011 Burn Relay Route

 

Santa Clara County Fire Battles Early Morning House Fire

   

Early on Thursday morning, August 11, Santa Clara County Fire battled a full first alarm house fire in Los Altos Hills. In a rare, early morning voluntary response, Jerry Haag responded in his personal vehicle. Jerry has submitted the following report:

 

Date & Time: 11 August 2011, 0200 hours 

Agency: Santa Clara County Fire
Incident Address: Anacapa Dr. & Ascension Dr., Los Altos Hills  
Type: “Full First” Alarm
 

Details: Large, single-story, single-family, unoccupied dwelling undergoing remodeling. Fire in attached garage that spread to roof. Delayed detection, heavily involved before arrival of first units. Heavy damage to the building. Engine 15 first in, provided own 5" supply line from close hydrant, 5 attack lines.

Responders:
CNT: E-1, 7, 15, 16; R-14, 17; HM-2; BS-2; IC-Batt. 14 (Vega), Safety (Wallace)

FASCV Responding Unit: Voluntary response by Jerry Haag in his own POV, released at 0425 hours. 28 bottles of water dispensed.
FASCV Responders: Jerry Haag

   

Santa Clara Firefighters Battle 3-Alarm Fire

  

Date & Time: 02 August 2011, 1934 hours
Agency: Santa Clara City
Incident Address: 2312 Augusta Lane 
Type: Third Alarm

Details: Wood frame, single story, single family dwelling. Fire in outside shed and attached garage. Engine 5 first in, own 5" supply line from close hydrant, 3 attack lines. Heavy black smoke more reminiscent of an industrial fire filled the sky above Santa Clara, visible from Palo Alto to the far side of San Jose - the outside "structure" was full of "heavy fuel load" materials, which caused the increased level of smoke, and some problems for firefighters.

Responders:
SNC: E-2, 7, 9, 10; E-1 & 3 quickly released; T-2; R-2; IC-Batt. 1 (Dellamaggiore)

FASCV Responding Unit: FSU-1, released at 2115 hours.
Responders:  Bob Gundrum (driver), Herman De Kruyff, Bruce Dembecki, Jerry Haag and Dan Wong with Walter Huber (guest)

• Bruce's photos can be viewed at:  Santa Clara Fire