Action Photographs
2003

The photos below are reduced-size or cropped thumbnails. Click any photo to see the full-sized image.

Mutual Aid, San Jose, 3 Feb 2003

all: B/C Bob Smith

Mutual aid response at De Anza Blvd and Bark Ln, San Jose Fire Department's first due area, 3 Feb 2003.

Top left: hoses across parking lot.
Top right: Engine 9 uses it's deck gun (center), as Truck 1 sets it's stabilizers.
Bottom left: firefighter directing master stream from the tip of Truck 1's ladder.
Bottom right: County Truck 1 and San Jose Truck 4 attack the fire with master streams.

Note: Although designated throughout this incident as "Truck 1", the actual vehicle being used is Reserve Truck 111, formerly Truck 5, running as Truck 1.

On 2/3/03 at 2314 CNT¹ E-2, E-9, T-1, and B-7 were requested as a 2nd alarm response into SJS² for a 3-alarm restaurant fire at De Anza Blvd and Bark Ln. CNT B-7 was Div C and was assigned CNT E-2, E-9, T-1, SJS T-4, LU-4³, and E-9. CNT E-2 laid 5" [hose] and supplied SJS T-4 (water tower) and CNT E-9 (deck gun and 2 handlines), CNT T-1 laid their own 5" in from another hydrant and set up a water tower. SJS E-9 was RIC⁴ in the C division. The fire was attacked defensively with water towers at first, then handlines were brought in for hidden fire and mop up. Structure was a total loss. CNT units cleared about 0230 hrs. SAR⁵ E-30 moved up to WV.

¹ CNT: designation for Santa Clara County fire department
² SJS: designation for San Jose fire department
³ LU: Light Unit, providing scene illumination
⁴ RIC: Rapid Intervention Crew, a standby rescue team to assist if a firefighter is trapped or injured
⁵ SAR: designation for Saratoga department. During a large event, other apparatus are redistributed to cover stations that are occupied. In this case, a Saratoga engine covered West Valley's station.

Cupertino truck crew FF/E Dan Bajtos, FF/E/P Art Marshall, and FF/E Bob Wess perform ladder maintenance on Reserve Truck 111, running as Truck 1. The 75' (23M) ladder is fully extended out at a 0° angle (horizontal), as it is inspected and lubricated. This photo gives a good view of the tip of the ladder, with it's floodlights, spotlights, monitor and standpipe. 4 Feb 2003.

Cupertino's Engine 1 and Squad 101, the 1936 Dodge Brothers hose wagon, at the Cupertino Unity parade, 8 Mar 2003.

Gas Explosion, Cupertino, 7 May 2003

both: Andrew Stoddard

Two alarm gas explosion and structure fire, Imperial Av, Cupertino. 7 May 2003. From the initial call for a gas leak, to the final mop-up took 9 hours.
Left: volunteer firefighters awaiting assignment in Staging. Because of the risk of another explosion, the gas from the underground pipe break is being allowed to burn off until it can be shut off remotely by PG&E, the utility company.
Right: B/C Charlie Anderson.

both: Andrew Stoddard

Volunteer firefighters man the hose lines, attempting to protect the house just beyond the fire. Mutual Aid firefighters from Saratoga (black coats) can be seen.

both: Andrew Stoddard

Right: firefighters confer with PG&E crews.

both: B/C Lynn Caldwell

Volunteer (left) and regular (right) firefighters working on side A.

both: B/C Lynn Caldwell

Structure protection, side C. Crews successfully prevent fire spread to the house under construction.

both: B/C Lynn Caldwell

Left: Volunteer firefighter Bud Alfred backs up FF/E Christina Larson on the hose. Right: FF/E Gil Smith watches the gas burn as it works its way up from the broken pipe under the sidewalk.

photo: B/C Lynn Caldwell

A view of the action from the tip of Truck 14's 75' ladder, side C.

Volunteer live fire training drill, 20 May 2003.

Using Northtree Fire International's portable live fire training trailer, the volunteers drill on interior fire attack. Here, the volunteers get a pre-event briefing.

both photos: Volunteer FF Brian Floyd

Under the watchful eye of the Northtree controller, a variety of fire scenarios can be practiced. Also present are three safety officers watching outside, and two inside, one with a deadman switch (in doorway, upper right photo) that can stop the evolution instantly if necessary. A RIC (Rapid Intervention Crew) team is also on standby, just like at a non-training fire. In the bottom right photo, the safety officer with the deadman switch gives the go-ahead to the operator, as they preheat the interior for another attack. The entire training complex is controlled by the operator via his computer screen. To the operator's left are safety interlocks and a kill switch.

both photos: Volunteer FF Brian Floyd

With flames showing, a team checks the door, then enters the building, staying low.

The controller, who's ghostly reflection can be seen in the glass, manipulates the fire as the firefighters attack it. He controls the fire's size and location, the amount of smoke, and can create a flashover to reenforce the need to stay low. Although the evolutions being shown here are not as smoky as a real fire (if they were, no photos could be taken), the propane-fueled fire is realistically hot.

During the evolutions, which go beyond sundown, firefighters can go through several bottles of air. Left: swapping out bottles. Right: RIC team on standby.

Brush fire, West Valley's area, 22 July 2003.

all photos: B/C Bob Smith

Engine 9, Engine 2, Patrol 1 and Battalion 3 responded to a grass/trees/wood debris fire along the railroad tracks and powerline right-of-way behind Claridge Ct in Saratoga. The fire burned about 1 acre of grass/30' (10M) of fence and a bunch of trees. The fire was stopped before it reached any homes. There were no injuries; the cause of the fire was undetermined.