El Sobrante Municipal Advisory Council (ESMAC) Contra Costa County Fire District Station #69/Battalion 7 October 2013 Response Breakdown & Significant Incidents Summary- Your Fire Station responded to 109 Emergency Calls Response breakdown: - 53 Emergency Medical Service - 21 Automatic Aid responses to the City of Richmond -13 Structure Fires -5 Vegetation Fires -1 Vehicle Fires -4 Fire/Medical Alarms -3 Motor Vehicle Accidents -3 Motor Vehicle Accidents with Rescue -4 Hazardous Conditions (Illegal Burning, Gas line breaks, Odor Investigations, etc) -2 Minor Rescue Battalion 7 Significant Incidents Residential Structure Fire, El Sobrante 10/4/13 4554 Hiltop Dr. - At 14:51 the Contra Costa County Fire District and Richmond Fire Department responded to a Residential Structure Fire at 4554 Hilltop Drive in. Engine 69 (El Sobrante) arrived on scene and found heavy fire showing from the front of a single story house, the fire was already well established upon their arrival and the Engine crew heard two explosions occur inside the house. The explosions were later discovered to have come from oxygen cylinders stored inside the home. The house was occupied when the fire started and the occupant was able to escape although he was suffering from smoke inhalation. He was treated by fire crews on scene and then was transported to the Hospital by Ambulance. The interior of the home and its contents sustained significant fire and smoke damage. No firefighters were injured in the firefighting operation. Four Engine Companies, one Truck Company, and three Command Vehicles staffed by 16 firefighters and 3 Battalion Chiefs responded to this incident. Residential Structure Fire, San Pablo 10/14/13 1414 Amador St - Contra Costa County Fire Engine 70 (San Pablo), Engine 69 (El Sobrante) Richmond Fire Engines 66 & Truck 68 and El Cerrito Fire Engine 71 responded to a Residential Structure Fire at 1414 Amador St #B in San Pablo. Engine 70 arrived at scene and reported smoke showing from the first floor unit of a two story, two unit apartment building. Firefighters completed a size‐up and initiated an offensive strategy of forcible entry, fire attack, search, and ventilation. The fire was quickly extinguished and isolated to one room and contents of the first floor apartment. Firefighters also searched and checked the second floor apartment for victims and fire extension. The 1st floor unit was unoccupied at the time of the fire and the neighbor upstairs was able to evacuate on her own. The fire caused approximately 10,000 dollars in loss to the structure, contents, and smoke damage. The majority of the involved apartment and the upstairs apartment were saved. The cause of this fire appeared to be accidental but remains under investigation by the Contra Costa County Fire Investigations Unit. This fire demonstrates the value of a properly maintained smoke detector. The fire was reported by the upstairs neighbor who was asleep and was awoken by the smoke alarm going off in the apartment below. She investigated the alarm, smelled smoke, evacuated, and called 911. This success chain may have saved her life and provided early notification to the Fire Department which limited the magnitude of the fire. Commercial Structure Fire – San Pablo 10/17/13 209 Center Ct. Giant Trade Center - At 23:38 hrs. the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and Richmond Fire Department responded to a reported Commercial Structure Fire at the Giant Trade Center in San Pablo. Engine 70 reported a column of smoke in route from the station. Engine 70 arrived on scene and found a well seated fire burning between and extending into two adjacent buildings in a 1940’s era wood sided industrial complex. Crews extended hose lines to start extinguishing the fire while other Engine Companies made access to the roof and the adjacent buildings. Crews were threatened by overhead power lines that had been damaged by the fire. The fire was kept from extending any further by the interior sprinkler system and an aggressive fire attack by Firefighters. The on-call Contra Costa Fire Investigator responded to the scene and estimated the damage at $150,000.00. There were no injuries to Citizens or Firefighters. Vegetation Fire, San Pablo Dam Reservoir 10/28/13 San Pablo Dam Rd - At 12:35 hrs. Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, Richmond Fire Department, Moraga-Orinda Fire District, CAL FIRE, and East Bay Regional Parks Fire Department responded to a Vegetation Fire near San Pablo Reservoir. When crews arrived on scene they found a well‐established wild land fire burning in steep terrain fueled by brush and eucalyptus trees. San Pablo Dam Road was closed for several hours while crews worked to extinguish the blaze. The fire was brought under control by 13:30 and crews remained on scene overhauling the fire and securing the perimeter until 16:50. The fire was kept to 3 acres in size. East Bay Regional Park Firefighters remained on scene as fire watch and checked for hot spots into the evening. Fire Prevention Week The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) encourages our Community to ‘Prevent Kitchen Fires. During this years fire safety campaign, the Fire District helped spread the word about the dangers of kitchen fires--most of which result from unattended cooking—and teaching local residents how to prevent kitchen fires from starting in the first place. According to the latest NFPA research, cooking is the leading cause of home fires. Two of every five home fires begin in the kitchen—more than any other place in the home. Cooking fires are also the leading cause of home fire-related injuries. Often when were called to a fire that started in the kitchen, the residents tell us that they only left the kitchen for a few minutes, said Andy Bozzo, Fire Captain. Sadly, thats all it takes for a dangerous fire to start. We hope that Fire Prevention Week will help us reach folks in the community before theyve suffered a damaging lesson. Among the safety tips that firefighters and safety advocates will be emphasizing: Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, broiling, or boiling food. If you must leave the room, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove. When you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, stay in the home, and use a timer to remind you. If you have young children, use the stove’s back burners whenever possible. Keep children and pets at least three away from the stove. When you cook, wear clothing with tight-fitting sleeves. Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper and plastic bags, towels, and anything else that can burn, away from your stovetop. Clean up food and grease from burners and stovetops. Fire Prevention Week is actively supported by fire departments across the country. Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 21:23:14 +0000