Firefighters Respond to Rattle Snake Bite

On Saturday, April 7, 2007 just after 4:00 PM, Santa Clara County Park Ranger Lisa Pappanastos requested 911 medical assistance for an adult male who was bitten by a rattlesnake at Joseph D Grant Ranch County Park. Grant Ranch Park is located high above San Jose in the Diablo Range. Emergency services are provided by the California Department of Forestry (CAL FIRE) with San Jose Fire assisting on mutual aid requests. Grant Ranch is located 8 miles up from Alum Rock Rd. on the steep and winding Mount Hamilton Rd.

Upon receiving a request for assistance, San Jose Engine Company 2, AMR Ambulance 653, and a CDF (CAL FIRE) responded to 18405 Mount Hamilton Road (Grant Ranch Park). Due to the extended response, Engine 2 personnel requested an Air Ambulance to expedite patient transport. CalStar 2 was immediately dispatched and in the air at 4:17. San Jose Fire Battalion Chief Cliff Hubbard responded and assumed incident command.

Upon arrival Engine 2 personnel met Park Ranger Pappanastos who was providing basic first aid. San Jose Firefighter Joe Ysselstein quickly assessed the patient and provided advanced life support care. AMR 653 and CalStar 2 arrived shortly after Engine 2. CalStar 2 identified a safe landing zone about a quarter mile from the patient. The patient was stabilized and loaded into the ambulance then shuttled to CalStar 2 at the landing zone.

CalStar 2 Air Ambulance 'hot loaded' the critically injured patient and flew him from Grant Ranch Park to the nearest trauma center.

Posted by: Captain Alberto Olmos, Public Information Officer
Submitted by: Battalion Chief Cliff Hubbard, Battalion 2B

The America’s Fire Heroes Whistle-Stop Tour

The America’s Fire Heroes Whistle-Stop Tour is intended to educate and provide information to the public and firefighters on how personal responsibility and action are key to preventing fires and fire-related casualties.

The Tour is scheduled to make 20 stops across the United States. It began in San Francisco yesterday April 5th and will conclude in Boston on May 12th. Presentations regarding the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives, Everyone Goes Home program and the Courage to Be Safe...So Everyone Goes Home training will be directed at the firefighter audience.

An important part of these presentations is the Untold Story of the Survivors in their own words. The names of all Firefighters who have given their lives in the line of duty since 1981 are scribed on the bus.

Firefighter Jason Krassow points to the name of Novato Firefighter Steven Rucker who gave his life during the San Diego Fire Storm on October 29, 2003.





Captain Mark McCormack, SCCFD











San Jose Fire Chief Darryl Von Raesfeld points to the name of San Jose Fire Engineer William Anger who gave his life returning from a call on February 21, 1981.













The Tour made a spontaneous stop in San Jose and visited several Fire Stations. They were hosted for dinner by the crew at Fire Station 1 and had an opportunity to meet with San Jose Fire Chief Darryl Von Raesfeld.

Submitted by: Captain, Alberto Olmos, Public Information Officer
Photos submitted by: Craig Allyn Rose, Photographer San Jose Fire Department