From the Field: 5-alarm fire destroys Santa Clara townhouses under construction

Author: Craig Allyn Rose/EmergencyPhoto.com

Copyright: 9-1-1 Magazine, Feature Content

Date: 2012-05-11

On Wednesday, May 9, 2012 units of the Santa Clara (CA) Fire Department were dispatched to Hillebrant Place inside the Boulevard condominium complex for reports of a fire working in a block of unfinished structures.

Arriving units confirmed a working fire and quickly called for a second alarm to contend with the rapidly intensifying blaze. As the fire continued to grow residents throughout the complex stood by in awe as flames shot high into the night sky. Cars parked along the perimeter of the burning construction site were consumed by fire as firefighters worked to stop the spread of the blaze to adjacent occupied residential structures.

Eventually five alarms would be struck with mutual aid units responding from Sunnyvale, San Jose, and Santa Clara County. Despite the size of the fire there were no injuries reported and residents were able to return to their homes with the exception of those residing in two units that sustained significant fire and smoke damage due to their proximity to the main body of fire.

By the time the flames were extinguished eight condominium units were lost resulting in approximately $2.4 million in damage.

See more images here.  http://emergencyphoto.zenfolio.com/hillebrant

- From The Field/9-1-1magazine.com (via EmergencyPhoto.com, 5/9/12)