Four-Alarm Fire DestroysHistoric San Jose Home

On Thursday, July 19, 2007 the City of San Jose lost one of its most historic homes to an early morning fire. Just before 4:00 a.m. the San Jose Firefighters responded to reports of a blaze in a vacant two-story Victorian structure at 156 East St. John Street in downtown San Jose.

Upon arrival Firefighters were up against intense fire conditions with flames erupting from the basement and blowing through the roof. Incident Commander Jim Stunkel (Battalion 1B) immediately declared a defensive operation as the roof caved in and the back exterior wall of the structure collapsed. Flames spread into the adjacent structure's attic. Without delay Firefighters quickly extinguished and saved that structure from further damage.

Constructed in 1881 the building served as the home of former San Jose Mayor Sherman Houghton, and his wife Eliza Donner Houghton. Eliza was a survivor of the legendary Donner Party. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

Posted by: CA Craig Schwinge SJFD PIO
Submitted by: CA Alberto Olmos E26B

Red Flag Warning Firefighters on Patrol

The National Weather Service has upgraded a fire weather watch that was issued for the Bay Area this morning into a red flag warning today due to the increased chance of dry lightning.

Normally, precipitation would put out any sparks from lighting during a storm. Dry lightning, strikes without any accompanying rain, usually in the hills or mountains. Several major fires still burning in California were caused by dry lightning.

Dry lightning strikes occur when the air next to the ground is very dry and the bottoms of thunderstorms are more than 10,000 feet above the ground, which causes the rain falling from the storms to evaporate before it hits the ground.

As a precaution, the San Jose Fire Department has staffed extra personnel and equipment to patrol critical fire areas in the East Foothills and Almaden Hills. These Firefighters will be patrolling from 10am to 10pm today and possibly tomorrow depending on the weather conditions.


Posted by: Captain, Alberto Olmos, Public Information Officer
Submitted by: Captain, Curtis Jacobson, San Jose Fire Department

Surviving the Heat

Heat Related Safety Tips

Never leave a child unattended in a motor vehicle: San Jose Fire Department wants to remind everyone that leaving a child unattended in a vehicle can have devastating consequences. Caregivers should be particularly vigilant about children's safety on days when temperatures rise.

Drink Plenty of Fluids: During hot weather, you need to drink water even if you don’t feel thirsty—as much as two to four glasses of cool fluids each hour. Avoid drinks containing alcohol or caffeine.

Stay Cool Indoors: The best way to beat the heat is to stay in a cool area. If you do not have an air conditioner, consider a visit to a shopping mall, movie theatre, or public library for a few hours. A cool shower or bath also can cool you off. Avoid strenuous activities during the hottest part of the day, usually mid- to late-afternoon.

Avoid Hot Foods and Heavy Meals: Have a popsicle or other frozen treat that can be refreshing on a warm day. Eat cool or cold foods such as sandwiches and salads. Fresh vegetables and fruits generally contain water too and can help hydrate while offering a healthy snack. The key is to stay hydrated.

Use a Buddy System: The elderly, children, and individuals on certain medications should be especially prepared for the heat and the possibility of power outages. If you are vulnerable to the heat, have someone check on you twice a day during a heat wave.

Fend off food poisoning: In warm weather, careless food preparation such as an undercooked burger and improper food storage can be disastrous. Don't let an outbreak of food poisoning ruin your good time. Cook your food thoroughly.

The City of San José uses specific community centers as Cooling Centers to provide relief from the summer heat. If you need a place to cool down during extreme heat, eleven Cooling Centers will be opened in San Jose.

For detailed information on Cooling Centers visit this link: http://www.sanjoseca.gov/prns/doc/CoolingCenterPR070507f.pdf

Posted by: Captain Alberto Olmos, SJFD, PIO