SAN JOSE FIRE FIGHTERS LOCAL 230
August 3nd, 2018   
     
IN THE NEWS
  
House Fire in Downtown San Jose Displaces 11 People
SAN JOSE - Eleven people, including two children, were displaced during a two-alarm house fire on the 100 block of N. Sixth Street, according to San Jose fire Capt. Mike Van Elgort.  The fire was reported at 8:53 a.m. at a Victorian-style, single-story home, and San Jose firefighters knocked it down at 9:17 a.m. The home sustained heavy damage and is uninhabitable. No injuries were reported. (top video)       NBC Bay Area          Mercury News

      
South Bay Fire Teams Coordinate Coverage as Help is Needed in Northern California Wildfires
SAN JOSE -   As of August 1st, 16 large wildfires were burning across California, putting a huge strain on fire departments. But they are coordinating and sharing resources, as was the case for two South Bay teams.   The crew from Cal Fire's station in Morgan Hill is assisting at the Mendocino Complex and Carr fires up north, and that move activated some teams from the San Jose Fire Department to cover the Morgan Hill station.   NBC Bay Area

  
South San Jose Grass Fire Prompts Evacuations
SAN JOSE - A grass fire was burning along a hillside in south San Jose prompting evacuations.   The fire in the area of Curie Drive and San Ignacio Avenue at Santa Teresa County Park grew to about 100 acres and two buildings had to be evacuated before firefighters got a handle on the blaze.   (video)     CBS      NBC Bay Area     CBS5 Raw Video

R EMEMBERING OUR 
FALLEN BROTHERS & 
SISTERS

Tom Davis (Ret.)
Fire Engineer
Retired 2-5-1998
Deceased: 6-23-2018
Thomas A. Gianatasio (Ret.)
Fire Captain
Retired 2009
Deceased: 6-10-2018
William J. Stout 
Chaplin
Deceased: 3-14-2018
Pete Lovier (Ret.)
Fire Engineer
Retired 2003
Deceased: 1-2-2018
Dan Bourbon (Ret.)
Battalion Chief
Retired 1993
Deceased: 2017
Gerald A Hubbard (Ret.)
Fire Captain
Retired 2-5-1986
Deceased: 8-19-2017
Oliver Anastacio (Ret.)
Fire Fighter
Retired: 8-8-1972
Deceased: 8-15-2017
Edward N. Silva (Ret.)
Fire Captain
Retired: 10-3-1973
Deceased: 7-26-2017
Bob Currall  (Ret.)
Fire Fighter
Retired: 12-3-1993
Deceased: 7-19-2017
John Whitaker (Vol)
Fire Associates of 
Silicon Valley
Deceased: 7-11-2017


INSTAGRAM   #SJFD

Thank you for keeping our city safe, and going out of your way to make all of our little firefighters feel special! ♥️






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Spike In San Jose 
Grass Fires Attributed To Homeless
Encampments

SAN JOSE  - A sharp increase in grass  fires  in San Jose has resulted in firefighters tracking what's been determined to be the common link: homeless encampments.  Currently in San Jose there area some 200 homeless encampments, many of them within dry grass.      CBS5     

  
Vehicle maintenance could help prevent local fires
SAN JOSE - As Californians face the reality of what could be an extended fire season, there is a renewed push to encourage residents to do more to help with fire prevention.
KGO


San Jose FD runs out of 
Battalion Chiefs

July 10th -  Due to the 3rd Alarm fire at Stewart & Alum Rock, and the MCI/Rescue at Lincoln & Auzerais, there were no Battalion Chiefs left to assist with other emergencies in the City.  

A Mutual Aid request was made to Sunnyvale Pubic Safety which was not fulfilled. One hour later Santa Clara County Fire Battalion 83 eventually filled the request and staffed SJFD Station 1 until SJFD units became available. 

SJFD forced to request help from neighbors

July 10th - Milpitas Fire and Santa Clara County Fire were called upon to supply San Jose with 
3 Engine Companies to cover the City.

      
Car overturns, van involved in SB 101 crash in San Jose

SAN JOSE - All lanes of southbound U.S. Highway 101 near Brokaw Road in San Jose are open again following a vehicle fire, California Highway Patrol officials said.   The fire, which occurred after a vehicle overturned, was reported on Highway 101 just north of Brokaw Road and had all but one lane blocked during a good portion of the evening's commute.      KTVU


      
San Jose Fire Department Responds To Hazmat Call At Medical Clinic
SAN JOSE - The San Jose Fire Department responded to a hazmat call at El Camino Hospital's new primary care clinic on S. Winchester Blvd. One woman who had entered the rear of the clinic smelled a strong odor of cleaning supplies. She was taken to a local hospital for throat irritation.   CBS


CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
Engine 16 - Mendocino Complex       
  
San Jose crews help battle massive Mendocino Complex, Carr fires
SAN JOSE - Firefighters all across the Bay Area continue to help out with the wildfires burning in California, with many being sent out to the front lines of the Carr and the Mendocino Complex fires. (video)
 KGO

California State Mutual Aid

Engine  9 - Mendocino Complex
Engine 16 - Mendocino Complex
Engine 13 - Mendocino Complex


CAL Fire "Staffing for Hire"

San Jose Fire Engines staffing CAL Fire Stations


 

Engine 2 - CAL Fire Smith Creek Fire Station 

Engine 14 - CAL Fire Sunol Fire Station


 
  
Wildfire scorches 21 acres in South San Jose
SAN JOSE - A wildfire charred 21 acres in South San Jose.  The blaze broke out near Metcalf Road east of Highway 101      Mercury News      


 
Rising Temps a Concern for San Jose Firefighters Battling Wildfires in California Heatwave
SAN JOSE - An unbearable heat wave across California is creating dangerous conditions for crews battling a number of wildfires in the state. Climate change may also be adding another hurdle for firefighters.   "As it gets hotter, firefighters are going to be facing more physical stress while they're working," San Jose Fire Department Capt. Robert Herrera said. "There will be a demand for shorter work cycles, more rest cycles put in there."       NBC Bay Area      


FIREWORKS
  
Did San Jose's illegal fireworks campaign work?  
SAN JOSE - It was a busy night for San Jose firefighters, with a couple dozen calls for fires. There is no word on their causes yet but at one fire near Highway 237 and the Guadalupe River, you could see illegal fireworks shooting off in the distance as firefighters battled a 1-acre grass fire.  (video)  KGO7 


More than 1,800 fireworks complaints logged on July 4th in San Jose 
SAN JOSE - The City of San Jose logged more than 1,800 complaints for illegal fireworks on July 4. Residents said they've had enough.  "It was like a warzone," said Alan Hinman of San Jose. "It was absolutely unbelievable."      KTVU


Homes Damaged in 3-Alarm Fire in San Jose

SAN JOSE - A fire jumped from one house to another  and forced two families out of their homes.
The three-alarm blaze broke out on the 4900 block of Berkeland Court, just east of Highway 101 and near Coyote Creek. It was fueled by a a gas line in between the two houses. A neighbor noticed the flames and quicly ran to one of the homes where a mother was trying to get out with her daughter. (video)     NBC


Firefighters Investigate 'Suspicious' Grass Fires Off Highway 87 in San Jose
SAN JOSE  - Fire investigators are treating a pair of small grass fires near San Jose International Airport as suspicious.  Both fires started around the same time late afternoon just off Highway 87 and near Skyport Drive.        NBC



SJPD says driver went around crossing gates in VTA, car crash that killed 2
SAN JOSE - A VTA Light rail train collides with vehicle killing two occupants marking the cities 24th and 25th traffic related fatalities of 2018.  This event escalated into a Multi-C asualty  Incident [MCI] as Firefighters evaluated the 20+ passengers on the light-rail train.  
( video)    KGO     CBS5     


      
      
LOCAL NEWS    
SF fire commissioner wants responders to get more help with stress, trauma

A peer-support program meant to help San Francisco firefighters and paramedics process the stresses of their jobs could see its first major expansion in nearly two decades.  The program, often described as effective but lacking resources, is seen by many within the department as critical to helping first responders manage the lingering post-traumatic stresses that can accompany their often harrowing work.      SF Chronicle 

      


Crews from Engine 21 (Sierra Rd) were forced to get creative when securing a water supply for this fire on Rockport Avenue in the Berryessa Neighborhood of East San Jose.


      
CALIFORNIA NEWS
     
San Diego Junior Firefighters Camp in Full Swing
SAN DIEGO - This week kids are learning leadership skills and life saving techniques - all thanks to a special junior firefighter camp. KUSI's Ginger Jeffries signed up for a day with these kids to find out just what it takes to work for the San Diego Fire Department.       KUSI

Firefighter dies battling Ferguson wildfire near Yosemite
A second firefighter has died battling the Ferguson Fire near Yosemite National Park. The National Park Service has identified the firefighter as Brian Hughes, captain of the Arrowhead Interagency Hotshots. He was 33. The Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park firefighter died after being struck by a tree on the east side of the fire, where Hughes and his crew "were operating in an area with a large amount of tree mortality," park officials said.  KCRA


NATIONAL NEWS
      
Governor Baker signs bill to designate cancer as work-related injury for state's firefighters
MASSACHUSETTS - Flanked by firefighters and their families, Governor Charlie Baker formally signed legislation at Broadway Fire Station that will designate cancer as a work-related injury for firefighters across Massachusetts.  The new law - championed by State Representative Daniel Cahill, a Lynn Democrat - will cover all medical treatments for firefighters diagnosed with cancer as well as their time missed because of the illness.      Boston Globe    

Region's firefighters now come equipped with bulletproof vests.
MASSACHUSETTS -  When Hopkinton paramedics arrived at the scene of a man barricaded in a small outbuilding with a sawed-off shotgun in December, the crew stood by wearing new gear: bulletproof vests and helmets.   While the nearly two-hour standoff ended peacefully, such equipment is becoming more common for firefighters and EMTs as they are increasingly thrown in the middle of hostile situations, including active shooter and mass casualty incidents.   Wicked Local  

      
 
   
     SIGNIFICANT SAN JOSE     
            FIRE INCIDENTS 

           First Due      San Jose Council District  
 

7.2.18   Rockport Ave    Station 19    SJ District 4
Multiple calls of a house on fire with flames coming from the windows.  The First arriving fire unit reported smoking coming from the attic on the 2nd floor.  The fire was knocked down and under control after 45 minutes.  PG&E was requested to secure the utilities and a precautionary standby ambulance. Board up was requested. One male was treated for injuries on scene but refused transport and all appropriate notifications were made.. 


7.3.18  Skyport @ 87   
    
  Station 5  District 3
Fire communications received multiple calls reporting a fire in the area of Skyport and 87. One unit was dispatched. CHP called to report 3 separate locations of the fire. The call was upgraded to a TIER, and two additional engines were requested with the Tier. The last unit cleared the scene after 2 hours. 


7.3.18  
Dixon Landing Rd   
Station 29   SJ District 4
Call from an alarm company reporting a water flow alarm at the Newby Landfill. A San Jose engine and truck, as well as one unit from Milpitas were dispatched. Communications received a call from someone who worked at the landfill, and they reported that she saw smoke and flames from a building at the landfill. The call was upgraded to a Full1st. Milpitas was advised of SJFD's upgraded response, and they also sent a full assignment. Milpitas Truck 86 arrived and reported smoke from the middle of the building. A burning pile was moved outside, however there was still a working fire interior. 


7.3.18  
Griffith St    Station 21    District 5 
  
Fire communications received multiple calls reporting a garage fire. The site called in as well, reporting a garage fire that spread to the kitchen, as well as a vehicle in the driveway on fire. A Full 1st response was dispatched. The first unit arrived and reported heavy smoke and fire from the Alpha side. There were multiple alert tones, due to live wires down around the involved home. There was an evacuation of threatened properties on Ryan St. PGE was expedited, and a precautionary ambulance was requested. 


7.3.18  Boulder Dr     Station 19  SJ District 4
Tier response after receiving multiple calls regarding a hillside on fire.  Engine 19 arrived on scene and reported a half acre fire of light flashy fuels slowly moving uphill.  CALFire was notified, started to respond, and was cancelled after 20 minutes.  The fire was knocked down after 30 minutes and under control at all units were back in service after 3 hours.  


7.4.18    Bendmill Wy  
     Station 24  SJ District 7
San Jose Fire Communications dispatched a Full 1st response to multiple calls reporting a garage fire. The first unit arrived advising smoke from the residence and for responders to go into offensive strategy. San Jose PD assisted with traffic control. PG&E assisted with securing utilities.
 

7.4.18   Fleming    Station 2  SJ District 5
San Jose Fire Communications dispatched an IZone response to reports of a fire on a five acre piece of land. While en-route Battalion 2 reported a column of smoke and upgraded to a TIER response with Calfire to respond as well. B2 arrived on scene reporting under one acre of fire with light flashy fuel at a moderate rate uphill going towards heavy brush. The fire was knocked down after 30 minutes hours and Calfire was cancelled. 


7.4.18   Lucretia Ave   Station 2   SJ District 5
Fire communications received reports of a fire in the creek area behind Yerba Buena High School. Two units responded, and the call was upgraded to a TIER at 1342 hours. SJPD was requested for traffic control. The fire was under control at 1452 hours. The parks department requested a tree faller and tractor to help with cleanup.



7.6.18 Lucretia Ave  Station 26   SJ District 7 
Fire communications received reports of a fire in the creek area behind Yerba Buena High School. Two units responded, and the call was upgraded to a TIER. SJPD was requested for traffic control. The fire was under control after 1.5 hours. The parks department requested a tree faller and tractor to help with cleanup.



7.7.18  SB 680     Station 19  SJ District 4
Fire Communications received multiple calls reporting a fire on the freeway, in the area of Northbound 680 South of Berryessa. A single unit was dispatched. Engine 19 arrived and requested the 3 closest engines for a fire that was 100 x 25ft into the trees. B2 attached, and an additional engine and water tender company were requested. A precautionary ambulance was started, due to 5-8 homeless encampments in the area of the fire. 
 

THIRD ALARM

7.8.18   
Stewart Ave         Station 2  SJ District 5
Communications received multiple calls of a vegetation fire threatening a structure.  A Full First was dispatched and upgraded to a 2nd Alarm when the responding units reported heavy smoke showing.  The first arriving fire unit reported heavy smoke from the front of the structure.  The call was upgraded to a 3rd Alarm when the IC continued to see heavy smoke coming from the structure.  SJPD was requested for traffic control, PG&E were requested to secure the utilities and board up to secure the residence.  


RESCUE VTA vs Vehicle

7.8.18  Lincoln Ave       Station 30  SJ District 6
 Reports of a light rail train that hit a vehicle with someone possibly trapped inside.  A Rescue response was dispatched at 1236 hours.  Subsequent calls indicated that the light rail had derailed.  The first arriving fire unit confirmed one fatality and another person trapped in the vehicle.  The USAR Task Force was requested to assist with extrication but later cancelled.  An Ambulance Task Force 1 (ATF-1) was requested to assist with the 3 patients from the light rail car with minor injuries as well as the patient originally trapped in the vehicle.  PG&E was requested to assist with a wire down that was later determined to be part of the light rail car.  Multiple SJPD units responded to assist with traffic control and other duties.  There were a total of 2 fatalities and three patients with minor injuries that refused transport.

7.8.18  Blossom Hill    Station 35  SJ District 2
San Jose Fire Communications dispatched a Full 1st response to multiple calls received for a mobile home on fire. The first arriving unit advised it was a fully involved shack between four mobile homes. San Jose PD assisted with traffic control. PG&E assisted with securing utilities. 


7.10.18  Flemming Ave   Station 2  SJ District 5 
Single unit dispatch to one call reporting a possible fire in the hills at a vague location.  Engine 2/Water Tender 2 arrived on scene reporting a large column but still making access and requested a TIER response.   E2 updated that a structure fire was threatening vegetation.  Due to the location a TIER response was sent along with a truck for the structure.  PG&E was requested for live wires down.  Operations became defensive as live wires were in contact with the metal frame of the structure and sentry was posted. 
 
7.10.18   SB 101  Station 16  SJ District 2
S ingle engine for reports of a grass fire. It was then upgraded to a TIER response after receiving reports of the fire an acre in size and spreading toward houses. The first arriving unit reported a reported at least 3-4 acres at a moderate rate of speed spreading into heavy brush. CDFB1613 responded to the fire since it is a SRA and CDFC106 for air support. CALFIRE ordered a Type 3 strike team from Monterey County. 

THIRD ALARM

7.11.18  Berkeland Ct    Station 35  SJ District 2
Multiple calls reporting a house on fire, possibly catching a second house on fire. A full first response was dispatched. The first unit arrived and reported a fire between two houses. The call was upgraded to a 2nd  alarm, and then again upgraded to a 3rd  alarm. 


7.11.18 19th St   Station 8  SJ District 3
Fire Communications received multiple calls reporting a fire in the area of 280 between 10th  St and McLaughlin. The callers reported the fire was not on the freeway, but on city streets. Two responses were sent to each side of the freeway, after reports of two locations came in. The first unit arrived on scene and requested a TIER response. The two
access points were 19th  Woodborough and also Story/Remillard. CHP was requested for traffic control. 


7.21.18 SJC Airport    Station 20  SJ District 3
Alert 3 for a small twin engine plane that went off the runway and into the grass upon landing with unknown number of souls and fuel on board.    Station 20 requested a full first response.    A full first was dispatched to the airport along with Station 20 equipment.   Engine 20A arrived and confirmed that the plane veered off the runway but no medical was needed for the occupants.    The response was reduced to Station 20 equipment only.   
 

7.21.18 Wool Creek Dr.   Station 26  SJ District 7
Fire Communications received reports of smoke in the creek area. A single unit was dispatched, and arrived on scene, the call was upgraded to a Tier, for a 1 acre fire in heavy brush. As the Tier response arrived on scene, it was determined that there were two fires, one at ground level and one above ground level. The city arborist was requested. 
  

7.23.18    Crucero Dr.  Station 26   SJ District 7
Full First response to a call reporting smoke from the second floor of a duplex.    Engine 26 arrived on scene and reported a working attic fire going into offensive strategy.    PG&E assisted with utilities and Red Cross was requested for displaced residents.   

7.25.18 Oakland Rd   Station 5  SJ District
Multiple calls reporting smoke from the creek area. Engine 23 arrived on scene reporting black smoke in the creek. They requested the next 3 closest engines. The call was upgraded to a Tier, SJPD was requested for traffic control. 

7.25.18 Lone Bluff Wy
Multiple calls reporting smoke coming from the creek. The first arriving unit reported multiple vegetation fires. A Tier response was called. 

7.26.18 Mt Hamilton Rd.    Station 2  SJ District
CalFire called with reports of a vehicle that went 10ft off the roadway. Engine 2 was dispatched, and arrived on scene and reported that the vehicle went 30ft down an embankment, per Spring Valley who was on scene. E2 requested the USAR to assist with the low-angle rescue. San Jose USAR units were delayed due to training, and County Fire USAR was requested to assist.

7.28.18 Phelan Ave  Station 26  SJ District 7
Multiple calls reporting an outside fire on the railroad tracks behind this location, possibly endangering a structure. The first unit arrived on scene and confirmed an outside fire next to a building. One unit entered the building to check for extension, and reported smoke in the building. After investigating, they found something burning between the ceiling and sprinkler, with pressurized smoke. 

7.29.18 N. 6th St    Station 1   SJ District 3
Multiple calls reporting a house fire.    The first arriving fire unit reported a working fire from the back of the structure.    A 2 nd  Alarm was requested and   t he fire was knocked down after 45 minutes.    Red Cross to assist the displaced residents.   

7.30.18 Long Bluff Way   Station 26  SJ District 7
A TIER response was dispatched to multiple calls reporting a fire in the creek next to the Los Lagos Golf Course.    Engine 26 arrived and found a 50'x50' slow moving vegetation fire in and near the creek.    The fire was placed under control after 75 minutes.    There were no reported injuries.

8.1.18  Aborn Road    Station 24 SJ District 8
Engine 24, E624 and Truck 16 were dispatched to a call from an alarm monitoring company for a water flow alarm.  E24 and E624 arrived and after investigating found water flowing and smoke inside the business, E24 requested a full first alarm.  The fire was knocked down and placed under control after 1 hour.  


SJFD MUTIAL AID REQUESTS - 


7.6.18  Cal OES
- Field Observers for the Klamathon fire. 
- Status Check-in Recorder for the Klamathon Fire
- Radio Operator to report to the Klamathon Fire. 
- Safety Officer to Klamathon Fire

7.6.18  CALFire 
Engine 27/E627 after receiving a request for a single engine for backfill for Morgan Hill fire station 4. 

7.8.18  SAN JOSE FD
County Fire provided BC Back-fill at Station 1

7.10.18  Santa Clara County Fire
Task Force request for a vegetation fire. 
Battalion 10, Engine 13, Engine 31, Engine 26, Engine 3

7.10.18 CALFIRE
Engine 12, Engine 35, Engine 27 and Battalion 13 Immediate need to the vegetation fire.   

7.10.18 SAN JOSE FD
Milpitas Engine to Station 2
County Engine to Station 18
County Battalion 82 to Station 13
 
7.17.18 CALFire
Engine 27 and Engine 18 & Water Tender 18  to a 5 acre fire.

7.17.17 CALFire
Engine 27 and E627 f or a vehicle accident and a vegetation fire with a life safety alert for a wire down. 

7.19.18 CAL OES
Fire Line Safety Officer

7.22.18 County Fire
Engine 2, Engine 21 Engine 19 for Wildland Task Force for fire on Fremont/Milpitas border. 

7.22.18 Milpitas Fire 
Engine 29 for station backfill 
 
7.22.18 County Fire 
3 SJFD Staff for Overhead Support Team.
  
7.22.18 Gilroy Fire
Engine 27 t o assist with a vegetation fire.

7.25.18 County Fire
Engine 18 Engine 27, Engine 25and Battalion 13for Type 6 Wildland Taskforce.

7.25.18 Gilroy Fire
Engine 11 for Station backfill

7.30.18 CALFire
Engine 2 to Backfill Smith Creek Fire Station

8.2.18 CALFire
Engine 35, Engine 27 to Del Monte Circle for structure fire




San Jose Firefighters Local 230| | spanner@sjff.org

ABOUT US:
Local 230 is the labor organization of the proud men and women that serve as Firefighters protecting the City of San Jose.  The members of the San Jose Fire Department rely on Local 230 to focus on the well being and safety of those that protect the lives of others. For more information, visit  www.sjff.org .



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