Fire Associates Makes Voluntary Response In San Jose

 

On Wed., March 30, at 11:30 A.M., John Whitaker had Fire Support Unit 2 out of the station to st retch its legs. It had been a while since the rig had been on a response -- and an even longer time since John had been on a response.

 

As a des tination, John headed over to SJFD Station 1 in downtown San Jose. But, as luck would have it, just as he arrived at the station, the dispatch radio crackled with the report of a warehouse fire in the area of Alma and S. 7th Street. A full first alarm was called and all of the Station 1 equipment responded as part of the dispatch.

John sat in FSU-2 at the rear of the station to see what the first-arriving units reported. The report came back that the fire was burning at the rear of the warehouse and a second alarm was called. John immediately headed for the location to see if Rehab support was needed. The actual location of the fire turned out to be more in the area of 1460 S. Monterey Hwy. -- just south of a new Walmart shopping center.

 

Once on scene, John contacted the Battalion 1 Chief and Med30 and it was decided that Rehab was not needed. While there, John was met by FASCV member Don Gilbert who arrived in his personal vehicle. He had been out shopping and noticed the smoke.

It turned out that the fire was actually a large trash fire along the railroad right of way at the rear of the building. Fire crews made quick work extinguishing the blaze. John stayed on scene until the crews were released and then headed back to Station 6.

  

-- Report submitted by John Whitaker

Fire Associates Responds to 2-Alarm Condo Fire in Morgan Hill

   

Friday night, March 25, at a few minutes past 8:00 P.M., the Morgan Hill Cal Fire dispatch center received reports of a working fire in a condo unit in the Nob Hill Manor located at 17100 Viewcrest Lane. This is a 3-story, multiple-unit condo complex off West Dunne Avenue. The fire was burning on the 3rd floor.

    

A 2nd alarm was eventually dispatched and Morgan Hill Fire was assisted by units from South Santa Clara County Fire District, Cal Fire, and San Jose. Eight engines and 2 trucks were dispatched. The crews did a great job in limiting the fire to a single unit, displacing only the single occupant.

   

Fire Associates were paged at 8:39 P.M. for a Fire Support Unit. John Whiteside responded with FSU-3 from south San Jose for the approximately 16-mile drive. Bill Roth had picked up donuts and was waiting on-scene for John. Guest Teri Cosentino also assisted. Water, coffee, Gatorade, Clif Bars and donuts were provided to the on-scene personnel. FSU-3 was released at 11:15 P.M., returning to San Jose Station 35.

  

-- Report submitted by John Whiteside

Barn Fire In San Martin

 

Photo By Bill Roth

On Sunday, March 20, at 6:26 A.M., South Santa Clara County Fire District dispatch (Cal Fire Morgan Hill) requested Fire Associates to a 2nd alarm structure fire involving a barn and adjacent recreation vehicle. The blaze was located at 12600 Center Ave., in San Martin. Additional fire units from Morgan Hill, Gilroy, Cal Fire, and San Jose departments responded to the scene or covered vacant stations. Approximately 12 engines and water tenders worked a portable water tank set up on Center Avenue, relay pumping into the scene.

   

John Whiteside was notified and responded with Fire Support Unit 3 -- about 21 miles from south San Jose. FASCV member Bill Roth lives just a few blocks from the scene and was waiting for John to arrive. Guest Teri Cosentino also assisted. Fire Associates provided bench seats, hot coffee, water, Gatorade, Clif Bars and ever-popular donuts to on-scene personnel.

 
Also, per Cal Fire request, Bill Roth transported used fire hose to Station 2 using his personal pickup truck after the fire.

Fire Associates was released at 10:10 A.M. and John returned FSU-3 to quarters at San Jose Station 35, to restock and be ready for the next response.

-- Report submitted by John Whiteside

Busy Day In Milpitas

   

Saturday, March 19, turned into one of the busiest afternoons on record for Milpitas Fire. A fire at Walmart on Ranch Drive started the afternoon. Arriving units had a store being evacuated, smoke from the roof, and sprinklers inside flooding merchandise and the store. Walmart staff were trying to get people to evacuate, most had items in their carts they didn’t want to relinquish, not understanding the scope of the emergency.

 

With smoke and flaming showing above the large building, a second alarm requested, which brought engines, a truck and a Chief from Fremont Fire, while San Jose responded an engine to provide city coverage for Milpitas.

 

The firefight was complicated by the involvement of a solar installation, which was involved in the fire. Eventually crews got a handle on things and got the fire extinguished, using 2 hand lines from the roof. There was a lot of water inside the building though, adding to the flooding situation. The water from above made the ceiling tiles in the fire area unstable.

 

With the fire extinguished, it was decided to release the Fremont units, and while there was extensive overhaul required, Milpitas’ 3 engines and two trucks could handle the situation at Walmart.

 

No sooner was Fremont equipment on their way home than reports of a vehicle on it’s side started coming in, for a location just around the corner from Walmart on McCarthy Blvd. near Dixon Landing Rd. Walmart IC cleared one of it’s Engine companies to respond to the MVA. Meanwhile San Jose’s rig was dispatched to a medical incident elsewhere in Milpitas. The Fremont crews came across the Dixon Landing incident on their way out and began to work the scene. They had a vehicle on its side, smoking, with an occupant trapped inside. After evaluation they requested a Heavy Rescue response to the scene. Walmart IC cleared the Truck/USAR from their scene to assist on the Dixon Landing incident, as well as the engine already en route and the Fremont crews on scene.

 

The Milpitas duty chief, en route to the Walmart incident, diverted to the rescue. A new call involving a car on it’s side came in on the other side of the city off Montague Expressway. Another rig was cleared from Walmart to investigate the second motor accident. Yet another medical incident came in, with no units left in the city a request was made to San Jose for another rig to assist with the new medical incident.

 

Sadly, the Dixon Landing incident was a fatality. While an extended recovery operation would still be required, the duty chief was able to clear the Truck/USAR to respond to the second car on it’s side over on Montague Expressway.

 

Around this time, Fire Associates member Bruce Dembecki arrived at the Walmart incident with Fire Support Unit 2. While there was much work still to happen at this site they dropped down to a single truck company when the last remaining Milpitas engine was responded to yet another medical incident. Rehab was briefly provided to the crew remaining on scene, and a supply of water, Gatorade and snacks was left on scene to help the crews who would surely be back later in the afternoon. Walmart IC was concerned about reports of an extended recovery operation at the Dixon Landing incident, and as it was only around the corner asked Fire Support Unit 2 to stop there and assist the crews on scene.

 

As FSU-2 was departing, the Truck/USAR were returning to Walmart, having been released from the Montague incident, and the Engine on Montague released the second San Jose unit and took their medical incident. Fire Support Unit 2 responded to the Dixon Landing incident and rehabbed crews on scene, before returning to service.

   

The crews from Milpitas and Fremont were busy, but very grateful for a friendly face and a cold drink in the middle of the craziness at multiple scenes.

 

-- Report submitted by Bruce Dembecki

San Jose Firefighters Call In 4-Alarm Blaze

   

Photo By Craig Allyn Rose

Just after noon on Friday, February 26, San Jose Fire Department’s Truck 30 noticed heavy flames coming from a residence across the street from the station on Auzerais Ave. Calling in immediately for a first and second alarm response, they went to work evacuating residents. The fire rapidly spread to the "Bravo 1", "Charlie 1", "Delta 1", and "Delta 2" exposures, leaving flames attacking multiple properties. Within 25 minutes, the IC, now Battalion 10, had escalated the incident to 3 alarms, and soon 4 alarms.
   
With the 3rd alarm dispatch, Fire Associates assistance was requested. Fortunately, our driver, Don Gilbert, was able to navigate Fire Support Unit 2 from the west side of Auzerais Ave. all the way into the fire scene, and it was quickly decided to set up Rehab INSIDE the apparatus bay at Fire Station 30. While Don was setting up the primary Rehab at Station 30, Fire Associates volunteer Bruce Dembecki was working to get cold drinks to crews working behind the fire ground on the "Charlie" side. County EMS joined the Fire Support Unit inside Station 30 to conduct a formal Rehab.
    
Apart from the very unusual benefit of running Rehab from an indoors location, there was the added benefit of being at Fire Station 30 -- home to Fire Associates' Rehab hydration supplies. So, water and Gatorade were pulled right off the station shelves -- instead of using the supplies on Fire Support Unit 2.
   
With Rehab up and running, FASCV members set about feeding the fire crews. Bruce made a run to a local restaurant and picked up 90 meals, and brought them back to set up a spot for lunch right in the apparatus bay at Station 30. We know serving meals happens multiple times a day at Station 30, but never before 90 meals at lunchtime! Fire Associates members George Hoyt, Rick James, and Mike Garcia also reported to duty at Station 30 to assist with the meal service.
   
By 4:00 P.M., crews had been fed and some teams were being released to go back into service. With a supply of drinks on hand and benches to provide remaining crews a break, it was decided FSU-2 could also go back into service. The rig was packed up and returned to service at 4:30 P.M., dropping off the left over meals to the BFO where an academy class was happy to meet Fire Associates and get an extra meal!

• More of Craig's photos can be viewed at:  4-Alarm Blaze

•  A San Jose Mercury News story can be read at:  San Jose House Fire

  

-- Report submitted by Bruce Dembecki

Palo Alto Fire Responds 3 Alarms to House Fire

   
Date and Time: Feb. 20, 2016, 11:40 A.M.
Agency: Palo Alto Fire
Incident Address: 1143 Bryant St., Palo Alto
Type: Third alarm
  
Details: Two-story, older home. Fire started in attic then moved down through the walls to the remainder of the house. Larry Carr in FSU-4 responded to the incident for Fire Associates. FSU-1 also responded and, while on scene, provided bottled water, Cliff Bars, and ice to restock FSU-4. The Fire Support Units were released from the scene at approximately 2:25 P.M.
  
Agency Responders: Palo Alto, Santa Clara County Fire, Mountain View, Santa Clara City Fire, and Menlo Park. IC: A/BC Bill Dale. 
  
FASCV Responding Units: FSU-4 and FSU-1.
  
FASCV Responders: Larry Carr, Mike Garcia, Bob Gundrum, and Dan Wong.
  
-- Report submitted by Larry Carr.

Fire Associates Responds to 2-Alarm Blaze In Gilroy

   

On February 16, near 5:00 P.M., Gilroy Fire dispatched units to a working structure fire at 7238 Alexander Street, at E. 8^th Street. This was the Mission Powder Coating Company, a large 10,000+ sq.ft. building. Crews said the fire was through the roof upon arriving and a 2^nd alarm was requested. This brought 6 additional mutual aid engines from South Santa Clara County Fire District, Morgan Hill, and San Jose to assist at the fire and cover vacant stations. 

   

Fire Associates was initially alerted for a possible response by the Cal Fire Morgan Hill Command Center around 5:30 P.M. when the Duty Captain called John Whiteside to inform him (and thus Fire Associates) of the fire situation and that FA might be requested by Gilroy Fire. Several minutes later a formal request was made.

   

John had earlier made several calls to FA members and realized he would be responding alone. Member Bill Roth, who lives in the area, was already dispatched to the fire as a Gilroy Police Volunteer In Policing (VIP). John went to San Jose Station 6 to drive Fire Support Unit 2 to Gilroy, about 25 miles away. 

   

Upon arrival, John provided hot coffee, donuts, CLIF bars, and set up lighting and portable benches for the tired crews in Rehab. Sandwiches had been brought to the scene and CALFIRE provided cold drinks. John was released at 10:00 P.M.

   

-- Report submitted by John Whiteside

Third Alarm Called as Multiple Structures Burn In Willow Glen

    

On February 3, at a few minutes past 8:00 P.M., San Jose Fire dispatchers received many calls of a fully involved house fire in the Willow Glen area. The address was 1041 Ellis Avenue near its intersection with Louise Avenue -- just off Lincoln Avenue. The location is only several blocks from SJFD Station 6, where Engine 6, Air Unit 6, and Fire Support Unit #2 are housed. 

  

A full first alarm was dispatched: 3 engines, 2 trucks, 2 chiefs, a squad, etc. Upon arrival, E6 reported a 2.5-story home under construction, fully involved, with scaffolding in place on the front of the structure. A hydrant was almost directly in front of the involved house, but the heat was too intense for the engine to position there, so it moved down to the next house, while laying a 5-inch supply line.

  

The intense heat soon began to influence the 2 adjacent structures as well as a detached garage at the rear. A 2^nd alarm was requested by the Incident Commander, and resulted in a 5-inch hose being laid across Lincoln Ave., closing that main artery for over 3 hours. Due to the structural conditions and scaffolding, a collapse zone was established at the scene.

  

At approximately 9:20 P.M., a roof fire was reported to be starting on a house a block behind, and across a street, from the primary structure. The IC requsted a 3^rd alarm -- which automatically pages Fire Associates for a response. 

  

Don Gilbert and John Whiteside met at Station 6 to take FSU-2 to the scene. They were assisted later by guest Teri Cosentino. FSU-2 was released at 12:15 A.M., February 4, after serving the initial fire crews while waiting for the fire-watch crew to arrive.

  

-- Report submitted by John Whiteside

Saratoga House Fire Goes to 2 Alarms

   
Date and Time: Jan. 12, 2016, 8:02 P.M.
Agency: Santa Clara County Fire
Type: Second alarm
Incident Address: 19459 Burgundy Way, Saratoga
 
Details: Fast-developing fire in the garage of a large single-story, ranch-style dwelling was starting to spread to the attic on the "Bravo" side upon arrival of the first unit, Engine 78. Three attack lines were ultimately used to stop the spread and extinguish the fire. Most of the building and contents were saved by aggressive interior attack. Fire Support Unit 1 arrived at about 8:45 P.M. and was released from the scene at 11:30 P.M.
 
Agency Responders:
County Fire: Engines 71, 72, 73, 78, 79; Rescue-73; Trucks 71 and 85; Breathing Support 72; HazMat 72; and BCs 72 (Yannoni-IC), 74, and 83.
 
FASCV Responding Unit: FSU-1.
FASCV Responders: Mike Garcia (driver) and Jerry Haag
  
-- Report submitted by Jerry Haag

San Jose House Fire Requires A 3-Alarm Response

 

A little after noon on Sunday, Jan. 3, San Jose Fire dispatchers received multiple reports of a house on fire on S. 10th Street. Initial reports included one that an elderly resident had been carried from the residence and was unconscious on the ground outside the home with others going into the structure to retrieve a second elderly resident. With Med 30 reporting smoke visible from Station 30, and the report of rescues in progress with residents needing medical assistance, Battalion 1 escalated the incident to a second alarm before units had arrived on scene.

 

With reports of at least 2 injuries and more people inside, an EMS Task Force was summoned to the scene, bringing 3 ambulances, an EMS Field Supervisor, and the EMS Duty Chief to the scene. Working under Med 30 as Medical Group, together with an Engine company, they were able to quickly start treatment on the two residents.

   

Due to a heavy fuel load inside the home, the fire was very hot. More than one captain inside the residence reported that the screens of their thermal imaging cameras had gone white. Early attempts to search the 2nd story were unsuccessful due to lack of visibility and heat. Firefighters attempting to vent the roof reported the roof was becoming rapidly spongy and were ordered off the roof.

   

Suddenly, the radios blared with a distress call. A firefighter had fallen through some stairs into the floor below. Some initial confusion over exactly which stairs had failed, and where the firefighter was, were quickly overcome when the firefighter was able to exit the building on his own and was escorted to the medical group for evaluation.

   

With conditions going from bad to worse, a third alarm was struck at 12:41 P.M. -- only 26 minutes after the initial call was received. With the 3rd Alarm came pager notifications to Fire Associates members that their assistance was needed in Rehab. Fire Associates member Bruce Dembecki responded to the incident, picking up Fire Support Unit 2 on the way.

   

Crews were eventually able to complete a primary search on the second floor. There was also a basement, but with a damaged stairway it was not possible to conduct a search until much later in the afternoon.

 

With the residents having been transported to hospital, and the firefighter released to resume duties on the fireground, the Medical group had switched to Rehab by the time Fire Support Unit 2 arrived on the scene. FSU-2 joined the Rehab section and set up hydration and some much needed Cliff bars. One nearby Chief later said the Cliff Bars were being “inhaled” by hungry firefighters, some of whom had not had the opportunity to have lunch before this incident began.

   

After a cool down period had been conducted, and firefighters cycled through Rehab, an overhaul plan was prepared and Bruce was sent to arrange meals for the remaining crews. Around 3:30 P.M., crews finally got to have lunch and 30 burritos disappeared before our eyes. Fire Support Unit 2 was released at approximately 5:00 P.M. and was packed up and back in quarters by 5:30 P.M.

 

-- Report submitted by Bruce Dembecki