New Years Eve Vegetation Fire Not A Surprise During Dry Year

   
On Tues., Dec. 31, at approximately 7:15 A.M., John Whiteside was having a cup of coffee when FASCV President Jerry Haag called about radio traffic dispatching a fire on Mt. Hamilton, east of San Jose. The fire was reported to be  several miles west of the Lick Observatory on Calif. Hwy. 130. John knew a controlled burn was being planned, so he called Cal Fire dispatch to inquire if this was that fire, or something. In addition, he wanted to know if  Cal Fire VIPs or Fire Associates would be requested. The answer was, “A wildland fire, 40 acres with a potential of 200”, and please respond Fire Associates!"
  
John informed Jerry of the request as both FASCV members were scheduled to support a continuing County Fire training exercise that afternoon. Jerry told John to take the fire call and he would handle the training exercise. John’s personal vehicle was in the shop, so he called member Don Gilbert to inform him, ask if he could go, and would he pick John up at home? Then, John notified Sonitrol to page out the dispatch. En route to San Jose Station 6 to get Fire Support Unit 2, they picked up breakfast to eat en route -- a trip of approximately 23 miles, on a curvy, hilly road. The fire was located within Joseph Grant County Park, 2 miles east of the main entrance.
    
Cal Fire’s Morgan Hill headquarters had dispatched a response at 5:27 A.M., eventually including air tankers, copters, dozers, hand crews, engines, and requested mutual aid engines and water tenders from San Jose, Spring Valley Volunteers, and Santa Clara County Fire Departments. Most of the forest fire stations have been closed for the winter.
    
After distributing drinks to the rigs on Mt. Hamilton Road, FSU-2 was directed to enter the fire area at Twin Gates Trailhead (about 1 mile west of Cal Fire Station 12, Smith Creek) and proceed off-road to the head of the fire -- now no longer a threat. On a hilltop near the Command Post, rehab was set up and supported lunch distribution at approximately 2:00 P.M. FSU-2 was released and reached the valley floor around 4:00 P.M. Upon FSU-2's arrival back in San Jose, the on-duty fire crew at Station 6 voluntarily washed the rig, which was covered with a fine-powder dust.

This was the last run for 2013.

• Photos by Don Gilbert can be viewed at: Vegetation Fire

    
Resources that were requested or on scene (from Cal Fire - Morgan Hill):

• Cal Fire:  Battalions 1600, 1605, and 1611; Prevention 1621; Captain 1632; Engines 1661, 1662, 1664, 1666, and 1681; CZU Engines 1766, 1768, and 1769; Ben Lomond Crews 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5; CZU Dozer 1741; BEU Dozer 4641; Copters 104 and 406; and Air Tankers 80 and 81.
    
• Spring Valley Volunteers:  Chiefs 1 and 2; Engines 22 and 52; and Patrol 22.
     
• San Jose Fire:  Battalion 2; Engines 2, 18, 13, and 31; and Water Tenders 2, 13, and 18.
    
• Santa Clara County Fire:  Engines 301 and 306.

-- Report submitted by John Whiteside

House Burns In Rural Area of Morgan Hill

  

Photo By Bruce Dembecki

At 3:15 A.M. on Sunday morning, Dec. 29, Morgan Hill Fire received reports of a house ablaze at 324 Casa Loma Road in an unincorporated area of Morgan Hill. Responding units included South Santa Clara County Fire, Morgan Hill Fire, Cal Fire, and San Jose Fire Units.
 
The home owner had been awoken by functioning smoke detectors and upon a search of the home found downstairs was clear, but upstairs was somewhat smokey. Outside, they discovered a chimney fire and set about attacking the fire with a garden hose. They quickly realized the fire was out of control and evacuated, finding pets and getting out, while calling 911. Fire units making the trek out to Casa Loma Rd. discovered a two-story residence fully engulfed in flames.
   
Water Tenders were used to establish a water supply from a hydrant back at the Cinnabar Hills Golf course while engine crews worked to keep the fire out of the vegetation and nearby exposures safe. The home was completely destroyed, with nothing more than the original chimney and half a wall here and there remaining.
    
Fire Associates were requested shortly before 5:00 A.M. and were on the road shortly thereafter. John Whiteside brought Fire Support Unit 3 to the scene and was met by Bruce Dembecki. Coffee and donuts were the order of the day, as temperatures were in the low 30s upon arrival of FSU-3. Fire Associates remained on scene until the night crews were replaced by a fresh shift to oversee the mop-up operations, and were released soon after 9:00 A.M. Fire Associates left the fireground at 9:20 A.M. and FSU-3 was back at San Jose Fire Station 35 by 10:00 A.M.
    
Thanks to the home owners functioning smoke detectors, no-one was injured, though there was nothing left of the house.

• Bruce's photos can be viewed at:  Casa Loma House Fire

-- Report submitted by Bruce Dembecki

Christmas Eve Fire Involves Commercial Building in Sunnyvale

   

Photo By David Thompson

Date and Time: 12-24-2013, 0706 hours
Agency:  Sunnyvale Public Safety
Incident Address: 222 Caspian Dr., Sunnyvale
Type: Second Alarm
   
Details: Fire in roofing material of a sprinklered, single-story, tilt-up, large commercial/R&D Building.
   
Agency Responders:
SNY: E-1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 60; T-1, 2; R-2; Batt. 1 (IC-Rushmeyer)
MTV: Station fill
SNC: E9 covered SNY Sta. 2
  
FASCV Responding Units: FSU-1. Released: 0815 hours.
FASCV Responders: Bob Gundrum (driver), Jerry Haag, and Dan Wong.

• A San Jose Mercury-News story can be read at:  Office Bldg. Blaze

 
-- Report submitted by Jerry Haag

Quick Attacked Douses 2-Alarm Apartment Fire In San Jose

  

Photo By Bruce Dembecki

After a full day on scene with San Jose Firefighters for their Typhoon Haiyan fundraiser event, Fire Associates member Bruce Dembecki had just finished restocking the ice in the Fire Associates freezer at Fire Station 6 and was ready to head home around 4:30 P.M. when the Station bells went off. Engine 6 and others were dispatched to a report of a multi-unit apartment building on fire at 892 Delmas Ave.
 

While Engine 6 rocketed out the door, Bruce took a couple of minutes to load some ice back into Fire Support Unit 2 and casually headed off to the nearby fire ground. Truck 30 reported a large column of smoke visible from their fire station, and Engine 3 quickly reported themselves on scene, with heavy smoke on all sides of the building and flames shooting out of the second floor windows on both sides of the buildings. Additionally, they reported the exposure on the Bravo side was at risk and immediately requested a second alarm.

   

Photo By Bruce Dembecki

Bruce let San Jose Fire dispatchers know that FSU-2 was attaching to the incident and unusually arrived on scene - well before the second alarm units. After checking in with Med 30, it was decided that FSU-2 would establish informal rehab on the south side of the incident and cold drinks, seating, and snack foods were quickly set up for fire crews. Fire Associates member John Whitaker also responded to the scene, having heard the initial radio traffic and being aware that FSU-2 was on scene.

   

Firefighters were able to quickly knock down the fire, but not before 17 people were displaced by the fire - fortunately no one was injured. Crews enjoyed the cold drinks over in Rehab and at 5:40 P.M. FSU-2 was released from the scene and returned to Fire Station 6.

• Photos by Bruce Dembecki can be seen at:  Delmas Ave. Fire
     
• A San Jose Mercury News story can be read at:  Residents Displaced

-- Report submitted by Bruce Dembecki

Location of Los Altos Hills Fire Provides Challenge for Firefighters and FASCV Members

 
Date and Time: 12-19-2013, 1716 hours
Agency: Santa Clara County Fire Dept.
Incident Address: 26060 Newbridge Dr., Los Altos Hills
Type: Second Alarm
 
Details: Fire in a large, 2-story, single-family dwelling. Well-involved upon arrival of R-14 who laid a 5-in. supply line up a long, steep driveway to initiate fire attack. FASCV member Larry Carr and company also hand-jacked table, ice, water, Gatorade, energy bars, etc. up the same driveway to set-up Rehab. The old guys can still hack it!
 
Agency Responders:
CNT: E-1, 3, 7, 15, 16, 17; T-1; R-14 (fire attack with 3 2-1/2" lines), 17; Batt. 2, 3, 14 (IC-Bowden)
 
FASCV Responding Units: FSU-4. Released: 1930 hours.
FASCV Responders: Larry Carr (driver), Jerry Haag, and Dan Wong.

• A news story from the losaltos.patch.com can be read at: 2-Alarm House Fire

-- Report submitted by Jerry Haag

Sonitrol Services Help FASCV Provide 44 Years of Aid to Local Fire Departments

    

FASCV President Jerry Haag and Vice President Bob Gumdrum present
Don Herzig of Sonitrol an award of appreciation for the dispatching
services the local security company provides.

Photo By John Whitaker

In November of this year, Fire Associates of Santa Clara Valley (FASCV) celebrated 44 years of providing volunteer service to the fire departments of Santa Clara County. Begun in November of 1969, the members of FASCV have been meeting the on-scene canteen and rehab needs of firefighters from all 12 fire agencies located in Silicon Valley. For a non-profit agency to be in existence for 44 years is an achievement all by itself, never mind that fact that our volunteer members have been responding 24/7, in all types of weather conditions.
  
But, besides the organization's dedicated members, and the many people who donate to the cause, there is another key, unsung member of the team.
   
Sonitrol - Pacific West Security, Inc. has been providing dispatch services to FASCV since 1980 when former FASCV member Al Brenner arranged for the company to provide free emergency dispatching for FASCV as a community service. Sonitrol is a locally owned, independent franchise affiliated with the Sonitrol Corporation based in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. The company maintains offices on Schallenberger Rd. in San Jose for alarm sales, installation, and monitoring.
   
To recognize the value that Sonitrol adds to the efforts of Fire Associates, FASCV President Jerry Haag, Vice President Bob Gundrum, and former President John Whitaker recently presented the security company with a plaque of appreciation. The plaque reads, "Awarded to Sonitrol of Silicon Valley for Service to Fire Associates of Santa Clara Valley Since 1980, December 6, 2013."
   
Accepting the award was Sonitrol Central Station Manager Don Herzig. Don commented that all the employees at the San Jose office were glad to provide the service to Fire Associates because of the importance of FASCV's service to local fire departments.

-- Report submitted by John Whitaker

FASCV Responds to Second Fire of the Day

Date and Time: 11-25-2013, 1713 hours
Agency: Santa Clara County Fire Dept.
Incident Address: 52 Almond Ave., Los Altos
Type: Second Alarm

Details: Fire in a small, single-story, single-family dwelling.

The fire was in a nice little cottage that was probably built in the '20s. Peak roof with usable attic space. The incident started with a report of an electrical fault on the cul-de-sac behind the house. Shortly after arrival of Engine 15 (fire station is right next door) and discovery of live wires on the ground the occupant reported that they smelled smoke in the house. Upon further investigation it was determined that there was fire in the basement with smoke and heat building up. Horizontal ventilation was initiated by removing basement windows and the IC requested a second alarm because of potential fire spread to upper floors. Jerry Haag had been monitoring the radio traffic and immediately called Larry Carr for a response in anticipation of the normal notification from Sonitrol. Larry was on-scene with Fire Support Unit 4 within about 20 minutes and provided rehab for about 2 hours before release. We enjoyed a Togo's sandwich compliments of County Fire.

Agency Responders:
CNT: E-1, 2, 7, 9, 15 (three hand lines), 16; T-1; R-14, 17; BS-2; HM-2; Batt. 3, 14 (IC-Pearson)

FASCV Responding Units: FSU-4. Released: 1945 hours.
FASCV Responders: Larry Carr (driver), Jerry Haag, and Dan Wong.

-- Report submitted by Jerry Haag

Santa Clara County Firefighters Respond To A 2-Alarm House Fire In Campbell

    

Photo By John Whitaker

On Monday, Nov. 25, the peace and quiet of a beautiful Fall morning was broken at 8:37 A.M. when Fire Associates' pagers sounded alerting them to a house fire in Campbell.  Located at 424 Carlyn Ave., a second alarm was called as a fire was burning in the rear of a single-family home. With fire moving into the attic space, Santa Clara County fire crews were challenged by the quickly spreading blaze.

John Whiteside and John Whitaker were both listening to their scanners and heard the IC call for a second alarm. Knowing that alarm level would bring a request for FASCV support, both John's called Don Gilbert to see if he was able to respond. Don lives on the west side of the Valley and would be able to respond much quicker -- if available. Don agreed to go get FSU-2 while John Whitaker went to the scene. They were joined by FASCV members, Jerry Haag, Cliff Smith and Bruce Dembecki.
 
The usual -- coffee, donuts, Clif Bars, Gatorade and water -- were supplied to the busy firefighters. As the overhaul of the structure wound down, and most of the fire crews were released to return to quarters, FASCV members were also released shortly before noon.

• John Whitaker's photos can be viewed at:  Campbell House Fire
   
• A Times-Herald on-line news story can be read at:  2-Alarm House Fire

-- Report submitted by John Whitaker

Morgan Hill House Fire Results in a Multi-Agency Response

 

Photo By John Whitaker

Travel To Incident Proved To Be Eventful

While most people were in bed at 1:15 A.M. on Friday, Nov. 22,. FASCV members were responding to a house fire south of Morgan Hill. Located at 11205 Monterey Highway, the fire was primarily burning in the attic space of a 1-story structure.  John Whitaker responded to the early morning call for assistance in Fire Support Unit 3, with John Whiteside along as passenger.
    
While the fire was the primary newsworthy event of this response, the trip down to the South Valley proved to have it's own excitement. As FSU-3 drove along southbound U.S. 101, emergency radio traffic reported a vehicle accident southbound, north of Coyote Hills Drive. That location was approximately 2 miles ahead of the FSU!
  
As the FSU approached, with yellow lights flashing for safety, it was obvious that there was a vehicle facing the wrong direction, up an embankment, in the median of the freeway. In addition, several other vehicles were stopped on the right-hand shoulder. The FSU was the first emergency unit on scene!
   
John Whiteside exited the FSU and checked on the status of the occupants in all vehicles. Two vehicles had been involved while the other cars had stopped for help. John statused the incident, and reported back to Dispatch via his hand-held radio that all occupants were out of the vehicles and there were no apparent injuries. By that time, a Rural Metro EMS rig arrived followed shortly by a CHP cruiser. With this incident taken over by other "responsibles", the FSU continued on to the original Morgan Hill blaze.
   

Photo By John Whitaker

The fire began shortly after midnight in a home that was located not far back from the shoulder of Monterey Highway. Fire crews from South Santa Clara County Fire District, Morgan Hill Fire, Cal Fire, Gilroy Fire, and San Jose Fire were all in attendance -- resulting in a 2-alarm "plus" response level. The extra equipment was made necessary because there was no water supply in the area. A water tender from SSCC Fire and two tenders from San Jose were all put into use shuttling water into a portable tank. Needless to say, Monterey Highway was shutdown southbound as the roadway was full of fire rigs!
    
All occupants of the home were lucky to escape the nighttime blaze as the fire ran the entire length of the attic space. Once knocked down, firefighters went to work emptying the structure of salvageable clothing and household goods -- which were stacked along the shoulder of the highway. The fire proved to be stubborn as it kept smoldering to life well into the wee hours of the morning.
    
Rehab was established in the median of Monterey Highway directly in front of the structure. Several dozen donuts, coffee, hot chocolate and some water and Gatorade were provided to fire crews and some victims of the fire. It was a cold night, by California standards, and both FASCV members were glad to have put on their long-johns before leaving home. Hot beverages were greatly appreciated by all in attendance. As sunrise approached, FSU-3 was released from duty and put back into service at approximately 5:30 A.M.

• John's photos can be viewed at:  Morgan Hill Blaze
     
• Additional photos at:  Photo 1   and   Photo 2

-- Report submitted by John Whitaker

San Jose Firefighters Battle Blaze and the Elements

  

Photo By John Whitaker

It doesn't have to be sunny and hot to have a fire.

That fact was proven on Wednesday, Nov. 20, as Fire Associates was paged to a 2-alarm house fire in South San Jose. Just before the first heavy rainstorm of the season struck the area, the residents of a 2-story house at 109 Rosewell Way came outside to find their garage fully engulfed in flame. By the time the first fire companies arrived on scene (Truck 35 and Engine 27), fire was coming out of almost every window in the structure.

Truck 35 and Truck 13 both set up their master streams and poured thousands of gallons of water and foam on the blaze. Because of the structure's weakened tile roof, firefighters remained outside the building and worked to gain access to the fire from the exterior. Every time it looked like the fire had been knocked down, another flame would pop up and have to be extinguished. Even during the downpours!

When the second alarm was struck, Fire Associates was requested to help assist with rehab. John Whiteside responded with Fire Support Unit 3 and was met on scene by FASCV members Bruce Dembecki, John Whitaker, and Dan Wong. A rehab area was quickly established near the IC and directly across from the burning structure. Since the event happened just before the noon hour, sandwiches and chips were ordered and Dan Wong left to go get the meals.

But, just before the sandwiches arrived back at the fireground, a rainstorm swept through the area soaking everything on scene -- benches, tables, Clif bars, coffee pots and all. Who says you can't have a fire in a rainstorm? But all the crews remaining on scene were served and FSU-3 was released at 3:45 P.M.

• John Whitaker's photos can be viewed at:  Rosewell Fire
    
• A San Jose Mercury News story can be read at:  Occupants Escape Blaze

-- Report submitted by John Whitaker