Tag: <span>Fire Department</span>

Local hero Eric Emmanuele, injured while attempting to stop a robbery, retires from service

Local hero Eric Emmanuele, injured while attempting to stop a robbery, retires from service

By Eric Shapiro, March 4, 2022

Eric Emmanuele, who worked as Chief Fire Enforcement Officer/Investigator for the Milpitas Fire Department (MFD) from 2017 till the end of 2021, has retired.

Prior to working for MFD, Emmanuele was a Police Officer with the Milpitas Police Department (MPD) for 27 years, beginning in 1990. In 2012, The California Conference of Arson Investigators named him “Officer of the Year” at their annual conference. In 2015, State Sen. Bob Wieckowski honored him as a City of Milpitas Local Hero.

Then come 2017, Emmanuele parlayed his law enforcement expertise into a role at MFD where he was tasked with investigating fires, bombings, environmental crimes, explosions, and arson. In a unique move, The Milpitas Office of the Fire Marshal devised Emmanuele’s position specifically for a law enforcement officer, not a fire inspector. In his first year at MFD, Emmanuele received the Outstanding Investigator Award from the Santa Clara County Fire Investigations Task Force for the arrest of an arsonist who had committed crimes in Milpitas and San Jose.

Along with his investigating work, Emmanuele was also tasked with the proactive enforcement of the Santa Clara County Health Officers’ COVID-19 order.

But in June of 2021, Emmanuele’s Chief Enforcement Officer position was eliminated by the City of Milpitas. By then, though, Emmanuele had already been off the job, sidelined by an injury and covered by workers comp.

The injury happened back in March of last year. Emmanuele was at The Great Mall when he saw a robbery in progress. A group had been going around and stealing; they happened to run out of the mall and right in front of Emmanuele. “I used my car,” Emmanuele explains now, “to try and block ‘em in.”

His thought process was, the criminals would flee by car and somebody would get hurt. It didn’t enter his mind at that moment that that somebody might be him…

Read rest of story on the Milpitas Beat.

Fire Departments

Two fire departments are responsible for fire suppression, emergency medical services, rescue services, hazardous and toxic materials emergency response, in town and in hills. Cal Fire also help suppress wild fires in our hills.

Firefighters
Firefighters on roof of Oo La Lodge during training session.

List of Fire Departments responsible for fires in the city proper and in the hillsides

Milpitas Fire Department
77 S Main St
Responsible for fire suppression, emergency medical services, rescue services, hazardous and toxic materials emergency response, coordination of City-wide disaster response efforts, enforcement of fire and life safety codes, enforcement of State and Federal hazardous materials regulations, and investigation of fire cause, arson and other emergency events for cause and origin.
408-586-2800
To report Emergencies Dial 911 from any phone.

Spring Valley Volunteer Fire Department
Provides fire safety and emergency medical services for residents, recreational enthusiasts, and property in the north-eastern foothills above San Jose and Milpitas, California.
Located in: Ed R. Levin County Park
Address: 3001 Calaveras Rd
408-228-3997

Cal Fire
The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection serves and safeguards the people and protects the property and resources of California. Serves Milpitas through help with wildfires in our hills.
Incidents Overview

See also: Fire News Archives

CALFire Twitter Timeline

Preparing for Wildfires Season

Living in Milpitas, like most bay area cities, we have had the luxury of not necessarily concerning ourselves with an abundance of caution for wildfires – with the exception of our hillside community. However, if Napa/Santa Rosa taught us anything, we learned that wildfires, with the right combination of wind, can wipe out entire neighborhoods, killing unaware residents in a matter of minutes, and no community is immune to this type of tragedy.

Red Flag Warning & Fire Weather Watches in Santa Clara County
A Red Flag Warning is issued for weather events which may result in extreme fire behavior that will occur within 24 hours. A Fire Weather Watch is issued when weather conditions could exist in the next 12-72 hours. A Red Flag Warning is the highest alert. During these times extreme caution is urged by all residents, because a simple spark can cause a major wildfire. A Fire Weather Watch is one level below a warning, but fire danger is still high.

Fire in Milpitas Hills June 22, 2018
Man! That was a close one! Fire in Milpitas Hills June 22, 2018

Here are a few tips to keep your home and neighborhood safe well ahead of time:

  1. Remove flammable items, such as firewood piles, portable propane tanks at least 30 feet away from structures.
  2. Discard any dry or dead vegetation within 100 feet of your homes. IF you see a home with overgrown weeds., or other dead vegetation, you can call the Office of the Fire Marshal to report the problem, 408-586-3365.
  3. Ensure everyone in your family knows where to meet in a disaster (such as a neighbors yard or driveway). And practice driving alternate evacuations routes so you are familiar with how to get our of your neighborhood or job in an emergency.
  4. Review your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy to ensure you have adequate coverage for your property and personal belongings.

Are You Prepared

Pre-Evacuation from Wildfires Preparation Steps
When an evacuation is anticipated, follow these checklists (if time allows) to give your home the best chance of surviving a wildfire. Listed below for your convenience.

Inside Preparation for Pre-Evacuation

  • Shut all windows and doors, leaving them unlocked.
  • Remove flammable window shades, curtains and close metal shutters.
  • Remove lightweight curtains.
  • Move flammable furniture to the center of the room, away from windows and doors.
  • Shut off gas at the meter; turn off pilot lights.
  • Leave your lights on so firefighters can see your house under smoky conditions.
  • Shut off the air conditioning.

Outside Preparation for Pre-Evacuation

  • Gather up flammable items from the exterior of the house and bring them inside (patio furniture, children’s toys, door mats, trash cans, etc.) or place them in your pool.
  • Turn off propane tanks.
  • Move propane BBQ appliances away from structures.
  • Connect garden hoses to outside water valves or spigots for use by firefighters. Fill water buckets and place them around the house.
  • Don’t leave sprinklers on or water running, they can affect critical water pressure.
  • Leave exterior lights on so your home is visible to firefighters in the smoke or darkness of night.
  • Put your Emergency Supply Kit in your vehicle.
  • Back your car into the driveway with vehicle loaded and all doors and windows closed. Carry your car keys with you.
  • Have a ladder available and place it at the corner of the house for firefighters to quickly access your roof.
  • Seal attic and ground vents with pre-cut plywood or commercial seals.
  • Patrol your property and monitor the fire situation. Don’t wait for an evacuation order if you feel threatened.
  • Check on neighbors and make sure they are preparing to leave.

Preparation for Animals in Wildfires

  • Locate your pets and keep them nearby.
  • Have carriers ready and an ample supply of food and water for pets ready to toss in the car.
  • Prepare farm animals for transport and think about moving them to a safe location early. Have a plan!

For more information on Fire Prevention, contact the Milpitas Fire Prevention Department at 408-586-3365.

How to prepare for a wildfire evacuation
If your household is under voluntary or potential evacuations, begin to prepare your home and get ready to leave. If mandatory evacuations are ordered, it’s important to leave as fast as possible.

A Wildfire is Coming. Are You Ready to Go?
Wildfires can ruin homes and cause injuries or death to people and animals. A wildfire is an unplanned fire that burns in a natural area such as a forest, grassland, or prairie.

See also ~

Emergency
Be prepared! Get these links printed out for that health, earthquake, or power outage emergency.

Emergency Preparedness
I will try to be as specific here to Milpitas residents as possible about how to prepare for emergencies such as wild fires, earthquakes, and sometimes floods.

CALFire Twitter Timeline

SCU Lightning Complex Fire, August 2020

News about how SCU Lightning Complex Fire is affecting us here in Milpitas, California.

Evacuation Map
Closeup of Evacuation Map as of 8/20 8:30AM

Mandatory evacuation area seems to include Whispering Hills Ranch and other horse ranches in the hills, Silva’s apricot orchard, Kim Parker’s Last Word Ranch, and possibly both adobe houses. GoMilpitas is located at the blob I hastily drew in the corner of Yosemite and Piedmont roads, safe for now, but smoky. Bill Hare, who produces world famous a cappella mixes from his home up at Calaveras and Felter roads, is also being evacuated. On his property is the historic Laguna one-room school, the first in Milpitas. Larger area map here.

Evacuation Resource Center for Santa Clara County Residents Available at Milpitas Library
An evacuation resource center at the Milpitas Library is available for residents of Santa Clara County who have been ordered to leave their homes because of the threat from the SCU Lightning Complex fire, which is growing and remains largely uncontained.

The resource center will be staffed by the American Red Cross and serve to assess the needs of individuals and families impacted by the evacuations and determine appropriate resources. It is not a shelter but serves to assist residents with temporary relocation.

All residents under an evacuation order are urged to take rapid action and leave the area immediately ahead of the fast-moving and unpredictable wildfire.

Evacuation Resources in several languages from the Santa Clara OEM

RECURSOS DE EVACUACIÓN:

HỖ TRỢ DI TẢN:

  • Trung tâm hỗ trợ di tản: Thư viện Milpitas 160 N. Main St. Milpitas, CA 95035
  • Thông tin về việc di tản: http://bit.ly/LightningComplex-SCC…
  • Đường dây khẩn cấp về cháy rừng tại Quận Hạt Santa Clara:(408) 808-7778

疏散資源:

More important information on the wildfires, at the The Office of Emergency Management website. The Santa Clara EOC Wild Fire Hotline is 408-808-7778.

Current air quality in Milpitas is VERY UNHEALTHY for everyone, not just those with respiratory concerns. At 239 US AQI. Stay inside!

fire near Ed Levin Aug 14 2020
Smoke seen from Milpitas of fire up near Ed Levin Park. Fire is called the Marsh Complex fire. Evacuation warnings have been issued. The fire has burned more than 1,775 acres so far and is 0% contained. This fire is burning in the same vicinity as the earthquake Monday afternoon. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Fire at Recycling Center May 25, 2020

Crews Contain Fire at South Bay Recycling Facility

Will leave story here for a few more hours, but not updating any longer. Story was updated continuously during the episode, by Ann Zeise, GoMilpitas.com

Crews are battling a fire that broke out around 1 p.m, May 25, 2020, in Milpitas. The Fire Department is on the scene at the 1600 block of Dixon Landing Rd at the Republic Services Newby Island Landfill. The cause of the fire is still unknown.

Listening to emergency crew from San Jose, Milpitas and Fremont.

Pressure on fire hydrant just went out for two trucks. Underground water main appears broken. Closest plug is about 2000′ up in Fremont. Water company has been called. Fremont Blvd. will be closed to accommodate fire hoses. Fire could take off again until water can once again be supplied.

Water tenders have arrived, and keeping fire from moving north into Fremont. Truck 29 moving in closer. Milpitas Fire 87 and 88 are both on the scene. Division Alpha pumping. Drafting water out of local ponds as well. See map. Water is NOT a city issue. Water main failure was with the Newbie Island water system.

[Possible Covid-19 emergency also being reported for other emergency crews to resolve.]

Knocking down burning debris with a front loader. Rotating crews into cooling station in a nearby barn. 125 psi only, too low pressure for effective fire fighting. Distance water has to go is a problem.

Starting to make real progress now (3:15). Plans being made for reinforcement, mop up. Fremont Engine 61 released to go home. Engine 23 released. Engine 21 with water tender awhile longer. Milpitas Engine 86 released. Truck 86 released, too.

Fire pushing to the west. Checking on extension. Firefighters said large compressed bales of trash — mostly paper products — caught fire at the facility. An official cause of the fire is under investigation.

One pile flaring up. Stick may be able to reach it. Flaring up near cyclone fence. Traffic on Fremont Blvd still be stopped. Go another way! 880 is not being shutdown.

At this point ensuring all hotspots are out. San Jose has 4 engines and trucks. Milpitas still also has one engine on scene. Fremont 16 only one left at scene from Fremont. Plan is to shut down in 5 minutes, by 4:05 PM. Engine 25 and 29 shutting down. Working on cutting down hydrant up in Fremont, and reclaiming the firehose. When down, Fremont Blvd will open up again.

Fire in Milpitas Hills June 22, 2018

Fire in Milpitas Hills June 22, 2018
Fire in Milpitas Hills June 22, 2018.
View from Ben Rogers Park near Grand Teton Dr., Milpitas

A fire is burning in the Milpitas hills above Summitpointe Golf course at the end of Country Club Dr. They are calling this the #CountryFire.

#CountryFire [final] off County Club Rd & N Park Victoria Rd in Milpitas (Santa Clara County) is now 100% contained at 320 acres. Unified Command: CAL FIRE Santa Clara Unit and @MilpitasFire https://t.co/0VnG2OfoeR pic.twitter.com/lIoaaiWMcT

— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) July 25, 2018

#CountryFire [update] off County Club Rd & N Park Victoria Rd in Milpitas (Santa Clara County) remains 320 acres & 90% contained. Unified Command: CAL FIRE Santa Clara Unit and @MilpitasFire https://t.co/0VnG2OfoeR pic.twitter.com/gxf93IfTz0

— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) July 24, 2018

#CountryFire [update] in Milpitas (Santa Clara County) remains 320 acres & 80% contained. All evacs and road closures are lifted. Unified Command: CAL FIRE Santa Clara Unit and @MilpitasFire. Pic from yesterday.https://t.co/0VnG2OfoeR pic.twitter.com/UuFqyUqG1D

— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) July 24, 2018

[update] off County Club Rd & N Park Victoria Rd in Milpitas (Santa Clara County) is now 320 acres & 80% contained. Unified Command: CAL FIRE Santa Clara Unit and

The fire is currently burning in Ed Levin County Park. It is burning in a southeasterly direction toward Weller Road. It has transitioned from grass into heavier brush in a very steep drainage, and is currently threatening the Mt. Allison communications site.

Due to moderation of weather last night, fire behavior diminished and firefighters made good progress.

Watch video from ABC.

Brush Fire Scorches 320 Acres in Hills East of Milpitas – NBC

Follow on Twitter at #CountryFire and #Milpitas

Live Audio – Santa Clara County Repeaters
If anything real major going on, you can listen in on the emergency radios here. Ones with most listeners usually the most interesting. Listen to Live Feeds. Select “CalFire SCU“.

Do NOT consider playing golf at Summitpointe, walking your dog at the Ed Levin Dog Park, hang gliding at the Ed Levin launch site, or hiking in that area. Some hikers have had to be rescued already.

Milpitas brush fire grows to 150 acres; 25 percent contained
UPDATED: JUL 22 2018 03:09PM PDT
A 150-acre brush fire burning near Ed R. Levin County Park in Milpitas is 25 percent contained, according to fire authorities.

Santa Clara County Wildfire Incidents
#CountryFire expected to reach 500 acres and reach Weller Road above Calaveras Reservoir. IC, type 3 engine strike teams being placed on Weller Rd on the eastern side of the hill. Temps in the 80s, wind generally out of the west southwest at 10-25 mph pushing most of the smoke from the #CountryFire to the east-northeast and away from the Santa Clara Valley for now. Country Air Attack advising Country IC that the fire will eventually bump Weller Road.

Live video here on CBS. You can see Ed Levin Park, and the pond near the dog park in this video.

Do not consider golfing, riding your horse, walking your dog, or hang gliding until this fire is out and the smoke has cleared.

General area, but up in the hills.

See also…

Preparing for Wildfire Season
We have learned that wildfires, with the right combination of wind, can wipe out entire neighborhoods, killing unaware residents in a matter of minutes.

Fire at the Semiconductor Plant

Milpitas Jokes

One dark night in Milpitas, a fire started inside the local semiconductor plant. Before long it exploded into flames and an alarm went out to fire departments miles around.

After fighting the fire for over an hour, the semiconductor company president approached the fire chief and said, “All of our secret formulas are in the vault in the center of the plant. They must be saved! I will give $50,000 to the engine company that brings them out safely!”

As soon as the chief heard this, he ordered the firemen to strengthen their attack on the blaze. After two more hours of attacking the fire, the president of the company offered $100,000 to the engine company that could bring out the company’s secret files.

From the distance a long siren was heard and little fire truck came into sight. It was a local volunteer fire company composed of a couple of fire fighters, Sparky, Elvis Presley (really Ron Short), the GoMilpitas.com webmaster and the President of the Historical Society.

To everyone’s amazement, Leapin’ Lena raced through the semiconductor plant gates and drove straight into the middle of the inferno. In the distance the other firemen watched as the motley crew hopped off of their rig and began to fight the fire with an effort that they had never seen before.

After an hour of intense fighting the volunteer company had extinguished the fire and saved the secret formulas. Joyous the semiconductor company president announced that he would double the reward to $200,000 and walked over to personally thank each of the volunteers.

After thanking each of the heros individually, the president asked the group what they intended to do with the reward money.

The Leapin’ Lena driver looked him right in the eye and said, “The first thing we’re going to do is fix the damn brakes on that truck!”

A Milpitas Mom’s Favorite Joke.

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