Thursday, July 26, 2007

Four-Alarm Fire Destroys
Historic 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

4 comments:

Joann said...
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Joann said...
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