Whew! What’s that smell? Walking outside of my place in Willow Glen yesterday it smelled as though something very close was on fire. It was a shock to find that it was in fact coming from a huge plume of smoke rising from the south-east hills near Henry Coe State Park. It looked like something from Metroblogging Los Angeles, not San Jose.

Firefighters are having a difficult time dealing with the terrain and 5,200 acres have already scummed to the out-of-control flames dubbed “The Lick Fire.”

Kathleen, one of about twenty women who work with the Fire Department here in San José, was at the scene of this mornings four-alarm blaze at Fourth and East St. John streets. She was there to help with the making of a video to be used for future SJFD training sessions.

Kathleen believed that the historic Houghton-Donner House, which broke into flames early this morning, may have been scheduled to be moved to a new location. She mentioned that ironically, someone had visited the home just yesterday to take photos in preparation for the possible move.

The home at 156 E. St. John Street was built for Mayor Sherman Houghton and his wife, Donner Party survivor Eliza Donner Houghton.

Of course the cause of the fire is under investigation, but squatters were know to have been in the area. Hopefully the home can be restored and moved to a safe site.
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Last night around 11:30 p.m. I shut down my Mac and was heading for bed when I heard the distinctive wailing of firetrucks racing down Meridian Avenue. I could tell it was something big.

It was a three-alarm fire at the Branham House apartments at 1624 Branham Lane near Meridian Ave. Four units were destroyed and others had some damage. Branham High School, which is within walking distance of the complex, was opened for use as a shelter for about 30 people.

The fire was reported at 10:57 p.m., a time when most people were asleep or about to retire. A fire at any time would be horrendous, but it would seem to be especially more difficult to evacuate at night. I would be pressed to find my shoes, not to mention important papers.

The possibility of loosing everything got me to thinking that it might be a good idea to have a small box packed with documents, phone numbers, spare keys, extra cash, a check book, and a few days of medications ready to grab on the way out if hit with a disaster.

Donations for the displaced families