Firefighter Injured In Fire That Caused $200K In Damages To Umatilla Trail Home

One firefighter suffered minor injuries in a one-alarm fire that caused about $200,000 damage to a home in unincorporated Santa Clara County Sunday, according to the Santa Clara County Fire Department.

The fire started at about 2:10 p.m. on Umatilla Trail near Cherokee Trail, fire officials said. Battalion Chief Mike Krisman said medics treated the firefighter and released him at the site of the fire.

Krisman said the fire burned throughout the attic of a 2,200 square foot home and part of a tree above the home. He said firefighters were able to contain the fire to the home despite how close homes are to each other. Krisman said Cal Fire sent a helicopter to the area because the fire posed a wildland threat.

The helicopter crew made one water drop to help crews put out the fire, which ignited only the tree among the other vegetation near the home.

“It never got into the vegetation,” Krisman said.

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The fire was out at about 3:10 p.m., fire officials said. Krisman said the cause of the fire does not appear to be suspicious, but the cause is still under investigation. Two people were displaced from the home and have made arrangements with their insurance company and either neighbors or family for basic necessities.

“It’s a nice close knit community up there,” Krisman said.

He said at one point crews had to pull back while they investigated whether an acetylene tank posed a threat. But firefighters determined that the relief valve had popped and the product had vented itself. Acetylene is a flammable gas.

“We were able to get it out of the way” and get back to the fire, Krisman said. The chief said he wants to remind communities to trim the vegetation along neighborhood roads so crews can get in. He said some roads are only wide enough for one truck and then the vegetation is brushing up against each side of the truck.

Krisman is also asking residents to follow Cal Fire guidelines with respect to vegetation around their home. He said to trim trees above the home, clean the roof and gutters of flammable material and keep vegetation the required distance from the home.

“It’s the season for it,” Krisman said. “That’s a big one.”

--Bay City News

--Photo courtesy of Santa Clara County Fire Department