150 Residents Displaced by Four-Alarm Fire

A four alarm fire in south San Jose displaced 150 residents from the Santa Teresa Apartments located at 6250 Santa Teresa Blvd. The fire broke out at approximately 4:15 p.m., Wednesday, February 7, 2007. A total of 25 Fire Units of the San Jose Fire Department responded to the blaze.

The initial '911' call reported black smoke coming from the building. Upon arrival Engine 27 reported heavy smoke and fire coming from the facade roof area of a three-story apartment complex. Firefighters made an aggressive interior attack on the fire by taking hand-lines up the stairwell into the third floor. Once on the third floor Firefighters broke through the ceiling sheetrock and attempted to extinguish the fire in the attic.

San Jose Fire Department Safety Officer,
Battalion Chief Robert Sapien carries a rescued pet form the building

As Engine Company Firefighters were attempting to extinguish the attic fire, Truck Company Firefighters were simultaneously going door to door evacuating residents from the building. With fire sweeping quickly through the attic of the structure, a fourth alarm was requested, summoning a total of approximately 100 firefighters to the scene to contend with evacuation and fire suppression duties. Firefighters rescued numerous pets including dogs, cats and birds. There were no reports of any injuries and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The blaze was declared under control at 8:46 p.m., after four and a half hour’s of labor intensive Firefighting. Residents that needed emergency housing were transported via VTA buses to the Southside Community Center where the American Red Cross, City of San Jose and Santa Clara County Housing Departments provided emergency assistance. District 2 City Councilmember Forest Williams, San Jose Fire Chief Darryl Von Raesfeld and San Jose Police Chief Rob Davis were in attendance at the Community Center in support of the displaced residents.

Submitted by: Captain, Alberto Olmos, Public Information Officer

Photos submitted by: Craig Allyn Rose, Photographer San Jose Fire Department