Frat Fire Requires 5th Alarm Response

Photo by John Whitaker

    
Early on Tuesday morning, June 21, San Jose Fire called for Fire Associates help at a 5-alarm fire burning in a fraternity house near the San Jose State University campus. It was 4:00 A.M. when the pagers went off, and Don Gilbert and John Whiteside responded to the call in Support Unit 2. They were greeted on scene by FASCV past president John Whitaker and later joined by members George Hoyt, Dan Wong and Jerry Haag.

The fire was burning in the Kappa Sigma fraternity house located at 168 S. 11th Street. Eleventh Street, between E. Santa Clara Street and E. San Salvador is known as "Fraternity Row." Well, there's now one less frat house on the block. First-arriving engine companies found the fire originally burning in an attic space. The fire quickly spread, however, and the fire attack eventually went defensive as the entire structure eventually was involved.

By the time Support Unit 2 arrived on the scene, three-alarms-worth of equipment was positioned all along 11th Street, making it difficult to maneuver the support unit to the rehab location in a driveway directly across from the burning structure. At about this time, a fourth alarm was called as an extra truck company was needed on the "Bravo-Charlie" corner of the structure and an engine company was needed to staff Rehab. News reports listed an additional 5th alarm for station coverage.

Rehab proved to be a busy place as hot and tired crews were rotated through on a warm, late-Spring morning. By 5:00 A.M., temperatures were near 70 degrees. In addition to six Fire Associates personnel, Rehab was staffed by an engine company and a minimum of 2 AMR crews and supervisors - making for a very crowded work area. Lemonade, Gatorade and water proved to be very popular and many pots of coffee were brewed to help wake everyone up during the early morning hours.

Fire Associates was released from the incident just before 8:00 A.M.

• John Whitaker's photos can be viewed at:  Fraternity Fire
  
  
• John's video of the event is at:  Kappa Sigma Fire Video
  
  
•  A San Jose Mercury News story can be read at:  Fire Destroys Frat House

San Jose Fire Responds to Downtown "High-rise" Fire

   

On Monday, June 20, shortly before 4:00 P.M. on a very hot, late Spring afternoon, the San Jose Fire Department asked for Fire Associates to respond to a downtown structure fire. John Whiteside and Bruce Dembecki responded in Support Unit 2 to the call at 56 S. Second Street. They were met on scene by John Whitaker, George Hoyt and Mike Chappell.

Although originally reported as a "fully involved apartment fire," the blaze was actually burning on the structure's roof. Apparently, the area functioned as a smoking deck for the building's residents. As temperatures registered well into the 90s, exhausted firefighters were met by lots of cold water and Gatorade when they arrived in Rehab. With the fire located on the fourth-floor roof, accessed by a narrow stairwell and exposed to the blazing sun, it proved to be a very tiring incident for all those involved. Fortunately, Rehab was located in the shade along the tree-lined sidewalk.

• John Whitaker's photos can be viewed at:  Downtown Structure Fire
  
  
• A San Jose Mercury News story can be read at:  Downtown Hi-rise Fire

 

Sunnyvale Fire Responds to 3rd-Alarm Incident

   

Date: 20 June 2011, 0200 hours
Agency: Sunnyvale
Incident Address: Johanna Ave. at Caliente Dr.
Type: Third alarm
Details: Two-story, wood-frame, 16-unit apartment building.

Units Present:
SNY: E-1,2,3,4,5,30,60; T-1,2; R-2, Batt. 1 (IC-Pitts)
MTV: T-1
PAF: R-2 with Air Support Unit

FASCV Responding Unit: FSU-1, released at 0700 hours.
Responders:  Bob Gundrum (driver), Jerry Haag, Ron Green, Bruce Dembecki, Dan Wong and David Thompson (Guest)

•  A KGO News story can be viewed at: Residents Displaced in Sunnyvale Fire

 
-- Submitted by Jerry Haag
   

Fire Associates Called to 2nd-Alarm in Milpitas

  

Date: 17 June 2011, 1917 hours
Agency: Milpitas
Incident Address: 2241 Lynwood Terrace
Type: Second alarm, cancelled quickly. Fire Associates special called.
 

Details: Recent-vintage, 2-story, wood-frame dwelling. Fire began in the garage, threatened to spread into the house. Effective offensive operations largely confined the serious damage to the garage. Pizza was served.

FASCV Responding Unit: FSU-1, released at 2145 hours.
Responders:  Jerry Haag (driver), Ron Green, Bruce Dembecki and Mike Chappell

• A news article in the Milpitas Patch can be read at:  House Fire Chars Garage

-- Submitted by Jerry Haag

San Jose Fire Dept. Responds to Mobile Home Fire

 

On May 31, in San Jose, the fire call came in shortly after 1100. A double-wide mobile home at 1373 Sunbeam Circle (cross of Sunshade Lane) was on fire. Engine 16 was in the area of Story and King and subsequently reported, “Smoke showing!"  The address, in a mobile home park, backed up against the high sound wall of the Story Road/Hwy 101 intersection.

The alarm level was a full-first, plus special call units. FASCV member, John Whiteside, was monitoring the call and the Safety Officer soon suggested Fire Associates be dispatched due to the amount of overhaul (and I assume being near lunch time). Whiteside then notified our answering service that he would take FSU-3 and to put out the page once San Jose requested us with the correct address.  

The San Jose Fire Dept. ordered and picked up 45 lunches and we supported with tables, benches, Clif Bars and drinks. FSU-3 departed Station 35 at 1133 and arrived back at 1440.

There were at least 3 AMR rig requests; for a fire fighter, a Red Cross rep with breathing problems, and stand-by. Along with with John Whiteside were FASCV members Bruce Dembecki, George Hoyt, Dan Wong and Mike Chappell.

  

-- Submitted by John Whiteside

  

Milpitas Calls for FASCV Response to 2-Alarm Fire

Date: 30 May 2011, 2107 hours
Agency: Milpitas
Incident Address: 27 East Carlo Street at Main St.
Type: Second alarm.
Details: Mr. P's Mini Mart; small, single-story, concrete block and frame roof commercial occupancy. Fire into the ceiling space on arrival of first engine. Once main body of fire was located, extinguishment proceeded quickly.

Units in attendance:
MLP E-201. 2, 3, 7, 9, 17; USAR-1; T-1, 4; Batt. 19. IC was Chief Frawley. 

Fremont provided station coverage.
FASCV Responding Unit: FSU-1, released at 1130 hours.
Responders:  Jerry Haag (driver), Bob Gundrum, Ron Green,  Bruce Dembecki and Dan Wong

• Bruce's photos can be viewed at: Mini-Mart Fire

-- Submitted by Jerry Haag

   

FASCV Responds to 2nd Alarm Fire in San Jose

  

On May 24, San Jose Fire Dept. received a call shortly after 1700 for a house fire at 2044 Junewood Avenue, cross street of Capewood Lane, in Engine 23’s area. This address is just off Morrill in Northeast San Jose. A quick Second Alarm was called upon arrival at the single-family, single-story residence. The house was so badly damaged that fencing had to be installed around the perimeter.

The Incident Commander, Batt 2, requested Fire Associates and FSU #2, driven by John Whiteside, responded and was met on scene by Bruce Dembecki and George Hoyt. Meals were picked up and served by Fire Associates and we were released about 2040.

• Bruce's photos can be viewed at:  Junewood Incident

-- Submitted by John Whiteside

 

County Fire Battles 2-alarm House Fire

   
On a cool, late Spring morning, Santa Clara County Fire responded to a 2-alarm structure fire.  Responding to a page for assistance, Jerry Haag took Fire Support Unit 1 to 873 Rose Blossom Dr. in Cupertino. Jerry has submitted the following report:

Date: 23 May 2011, 0902 hours
Agency: County Fire
Incident Address: 873 Rose Blossom Dr., Cupertino
Type: Second alarm.

Details: Single-story, frame dwelling with wood shingle roof, about 1400 sq. ft. Fire in vicinity of garage well developed on arrival of first engine. Quickly spread to roof and started spreading burning embers throughout the neighborhood. Major damage to structure of origin, nearby exposure dwelling on "D" side was saved with minor damage. Units were sent to a roof fire a block away.

Units in attendance:
CNT: E-1. 2, 3, 7, 9, 17; R-3, 17; T-1, 5; HM-2; Batt. 2, 3, 14. IC was Batt. Chief Pisciotta
FASCV Responding Unit: FSU-1, released at 1400 hours.
Responders:  Jerry Haag (driver), George Hoyt, Ron Green, Bruce Dembecki and Don Gilbert 

• Bruce's photos are at:  Rose Blossom

   

Fire Associates Receives Optimists' Award

 

Since 1997, the Optimist Club of Santa Clara has taken time each year to recognize public safety officers and fire personnel for the role they play in keeping the community safe. This year's "Respect for Law & Firefighters" ceremony was held on Thursday, May 19, in the City of Santa Clara's Council Chambers. During the evening, the Optimist Club honored members of both the Police and Fire department as well as members of the community.

Fire Associates of Santa Clara Valley was honored to receive the Optimist Club Distinguished Service Award. Although the award acknowledged the dedication and contributions of the entire organization, FASCV President Bob Gundrum was singled out for his 41 years of service to the City of Santa Clara. It was pointed out that Bob's very first response for the group was to an emergency in Santa Clara. The award was presented by Santa Clara City Fire Chief, Phil Kleinheinz.
   

Milpitas Responds to 2-Alarm Structure Fire

Photos By Jerry Haag

Shortly before noon on Wednesday, May 18, Milpitas Fire called a mutual aid response for a structure fire burning on the north end of their city. Jerry Haag responded in Fire Support Unit 1 and was joined by Bob Gundrum and George Hoyt. Jerry has submitted this brief report:

Date:  18 May 2011, 1127 hours
Agency: Milpitas
Incident Address: 1837 Sunnyhills Dr. 
Type: Second alarm.  
Details: Two-story, fourplex.
 
FASCV Responding Unit: FSU-1, released at 1445 hours
Responders:  Jerry Haag (driver), Bob Gundrum, George Hoyt