On Saturday, May 20, 2006, at 11:04 am, San Jose Firefighters responded to a report of smoke in the hills above Santa Teresa County Park off Bernal Road in South San Jose. Firefighters from Fire Station 27 responded in Engine 27 and Brush Patrol 27. En route, Captain Flanoy Garrett requested a Tier One wildland dispatch, upon seeing the smoke column above the Park. The T.I.E.R. One (Tactically Integrated Emergency Response) under the direction of Battalion Chief, Kevin Conant, consisted of Engine and Brush Patrol 27, Engine and Brush Patrol 12 and Engine 18, and Battalions 13 and 2.In route, Battalion Chief Conant requested the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) be notified and respond as well, since this fire was located in a State Responsibility Area. CDF responded Copter 106, Battalion 1613 and Training Captain 1606. Upon arrival Battalion 13 reported that the fire was less than an acre, burning at a slow rate of spread in semi-cured grass. The fire was located underneath PG& E's high tension power lines. Copter 106 provided a dozen water drops from their bucket, while the crews from Brush Patrol 27 and 12 extinguished the fire's spread. A CDF Hand crew from Ben Lomond Conservation Camp was called in to cut a handline around the perimeter of the fire to ensure that the fire did not rekindle.
There were no injuries incurred on this fire.Damage was limited to less than an acre of annual grass. The cause of the blaze was determined to be from a rattlesnake that was dropped by a raptor. When the bird dropped the snake, it came into contact with the power lines, arced and fell to the ground on fire. Electrocution marks were found on the snake lying in the area of origin on the fire.Submitted by Battalion Chief Kevin Conant, SJFD
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