|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Click on picture to enlarge.
By Dave Boyce
Almanac Staff Writer
Local firefighters played a role in fighting the massive residential fire that began with what is believed to be the explosion of a gas pipeline at 6:24 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 9, in San Bruno.
A message to the southern end of the Peninsula came in almost immediately asking for a water-tender group of four water trucks. The Woodside Fire Protection District provided a 3,000-gallon tender and four firefighters from Station 8 in Portola Valley, Battalion Chief Don Romero said in an interview.
Other participants in the group were the Kings Mountain and La Honda fire stations, staffed by trained volunteers, and the Skylonda station, which is staffed by firefighters who work for San Mateo County under contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Mr. Romero said.
The Menlo Park Police Department has two officers on the scene for duties as needed, Chief Bryan Roberts told the Almanac.
Pacific Gas & Electric is reporting that there are about 700 people without power, and 300 without gas in San Bruno.
Two of the water tender crews were reported on their way back home at 10:15 a.m. Friday, Mr. Romero said. There were no injuries to the firefighters in the water tender group, he said.
For firefighters on the scene in San Bruno, there will be a lot of checking for and extinguishing small fires, Mr. Romero said. “You want to make sure you don’t get a wildland fire out of this.”
● Silicon Valley Community Foundation creates emergency fund.
Thank you to all the firefighters assisting with this devastating fire in San Bruno, where my parents lived out their lives. While their house was not affected as far as we could tell, they knew the neighbors and on their behalf cannot express how grateful we are that while something went terribly wrong, the emergency units all responded quickly despite many roadblocks. San Bruno, we are thinking of you…..
I am surprised the $400k chief did not respond.
Chief Shapelhoumann later responded. We’ll have more information on that.
Though I’m now in another city, I lived in Menlo for over 20 years, and also the proud wife of a police officer, I feel I can comment.
It always amazes me that those who have something negative to say, i.e. “No Name” don’t have the courage to leave their name. Are you more upset he didn’t run up at the moment of the event or the fact that he makes a good salary? I’m thinking because you brought up his salary, that is what really bothers you.
That being said. Thanks to all those police officers, firemen, volunteers who risk their lives on a daily basis just showing up for work. WE DO APPRECIATE YOU!
Carrie
No Name – you will be embarrassed to know that Chief Schapelhouman was activated as part of the San Mateo County Emergency Operations Center immediately after the event occurred and he served in the Plans Section. The EOC had the responsibility of coordinating all of the requests for mutual aid and outside services.
You will be even more embarrassed to find that you have dramatically overstated his salary.
Perhaps you might want to do your homework in the future before you insult a superb public servant and make a fool out of yourself.
Great Job to all first responders, What a demonstration of TEAM work and leadership.
Thank You
No Name – note the Almanac update:
*********************
Chief Harold Schapelhouman of the Menlo Park Fire Protection District said that he and about 14 other members of his team were at the fire at one time or another. They went on a voluntary basis since commanders on the scene did not request more firefighters from this far south of the action, he said.
In addition to Chief Schapelhouman and several of his deputies, there were a logistics specialist, a fleet mechanic, and three men from the Menlo Park-based California Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 3, he said. Some of the men, including himself, worked all night.
They helped map the scene, including counting and locating burned vehicles with a GPS, doing an initial count of damaged structures, damage assessment, and pumping out a crater 15 or 20 feet deep, Chief Schapelhouman said.
“Typically, we don’t self-dispatch,” he said. He and his deputies made themselves useful as part of the integrated command structure “to manage a complicated and complex environment,” he said.
*****
Next time get the facts before you make a fool of yourself.
Peter Carpenter having a post deleted?? I’m glad I’m not the only one that occasionaly feels the need to take a slap at a moron. I guess I’m in good company.
No Name – perhaps you will now have the decency and the courage to apologize for your insinuating remark about Chief Schapelhouman.