Fire Associates of Santa Clara Valley

Fire Associates of Santa Clara Valley, Inc.
455 S. Mathilda Av
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
408.736.1566 (voice)
408.733.8190 (fax)
408.998.0454 (emergency)

photographer: Ed Del Prete

Although not directly affiliated with the Santa Clara County Fire Department, Fire Associates of Santa Clara Valley, Inc., a volunteer organization, have provided support since 1969 at multiple alarm fires, drills, and exercises to all fire departments in the Santa Clara valley area. Affiliated with the International Fire Buffs Associates, Inc., the Fire Associates maintain three Fire Support Unit canteen vehicles which respond to alarms, supplying rehab support, coffee, cold drinks, etc. to firefighters. The Fire Associates are always looking for volunteers to assist them. The Fire Associates blog, with incident reports and photos, can be visited at http://fascv.blogspot.com.

Where did the term "Fire Buffs" come from? In the early 1800's, firefighters wore heavy coats made of buffalo hide. These coats, and then the men who wore them, were called 'buffs'. In time, the term came to mean people who are firefighting enthusiasts, collectors of firefighting memorabilia, and those that go to, watch, and photograph fires.

photographer: John Whiteside

Fire Support 1 is a 1989 Ford F-350. It is a former County Fire shop vehicle. It is stationed at Santa Clara Fire Station 9.

photographer: Ed Del Prete

Fire Support 2 is a 2008 Ford F550. It is stationed at San Jose Fire Station 26.

photographer: Ed Del Prete

Fire Support 3 is also Dodge Power Ram. Like FSU#2, it is stationed at San Jose Fire Station 26.

Recognized as a volunteer fire department, Fire Associates vehicles are registered with official exempt license plates. Despite this, they have amber lightbars, not red, and do not respond code 3, with lights and siren. They are equipped with fire-band radios so that they can communicate with the dispatchers for the various communities to which they respond.

photographer: Ed Del Prete

Former Fire Support 1 was a Dodge Ram. It was taken out of service in 2004.

photographer: Ed Del Prete

Former Fire Support 2 was a 1990 Dodge Power Ram. It was stationed at San Jose Fire Station 26, and retired in 2009.

Wayne Sorenson Collection

Former Fire Support 2, no longer is service. This rig was an ex-Los Altos International which served as Squad 75.

Fire Associates set up Fire Support 2 and provide rehab for San Jose firefighters at a 3rd alarm townhouse complex on Sunday morning, 1 Dec 2002, shortly after 0800.

The 1929 Ahrens-Fox 1000gpm (3790l/m) pumper shown here is owned by the past president and co-founder of the Fire Associates, Len Williams, who purchased it from Ocean City, New Jersey in 1962, and had it shipped out to California via the Panama Canal. This photo was taken in San Francisco at a gathering of privately-owned antique fire apparatus as part of the events commemorating the 1906 earthquake.

photographer: Ed Del Prete

Other members have antique apparatus as well. This 1951 Mack, ex-Salinas California Fire Department, is owned and maintained by Treasurer Cliff Smith.

statistics: Bob Gundrum

Note: County run statistics include the areas of Campbell (1974-1993), Los Altos (1970-1996), Morgan Hill (1989) and Saratoga (1981-2008) so that areas of coverage are consistent.

For more information about Fire Buffs, visit the International Fire Buffs Association, Inc. (IFBA) website. They have a biannual electronic newsletter Turn Out available for free download.