Willow Glen Resident

News

Willow Glen downtown fire near Lester battled by 45 firefighters

By Moryt Milo

Thanks to four young women who stopped to talk to a "hot guy" as they drove up Lincoln Avenue, a fire that started inside a home didn't spread.

Samantha Garcia, Beatriz Villanueva, Katrina Tan and Chessa Duran noticed black smoke coming out the side of the house as they pulled up to the curb.

"Chessa and the hot guy ran into the house, which was unlocked, to see if anyone was inside," said Garcia, who is the granddaughter of Park Place owner Linda Waltrip. "Beatriz yelled at Chessa to get out of the house because the smoke had gotten so bad."

Duran and the unidentified man had to run out the back of the building because the smoke was too thick for them to exit through the front door.

"I had to jump a fence to get away from the fire," Duran said.

During the commotion, Villanueva called 911 and the girls tried to use a hose to combat the smoke and flames pouring out of the house. No one was home at the time.

The fire began at about 4 p.m. on May 12 at 1033 Lincoln Avenue. The property sits between Tim Casey construction and Willow Glen Funeral Home. It quickly blackened the skies around Lincoln and Lester avenues. A portion of the fence that borders the funeral home driveway caught on fire when a tree went up in flames.

Twelve-year San Jose firefighter Jarod Middleton said it's been a long time since a significant fire occurred on Lincoln Avenue.

"It was rippin' when we got here," he said.

The fire, which quickly turned into two alarms, was fanned by late afternoon winds. San Jose Fire Station No. 6 was first on the scene. Quick containment was an immediate concern, said San Jose Fire Capt. Steve Alvarado.

Six firehouses responded to the call. Ten fire engines and about 45 firefighters were on the scene, which closed down Lincoln Avenue between Coe and Broadway avenues for several hours.

"It took about 10 minutes to knock down the fire," Alvarado said.

"When I got to the intersection of Minnesota and Lincoln it looked like a thick fog. Smoke from the fire had worked its way all the way up to Casa Casa."

Alvarado said the preliminary damage is estimated at $400,000. In addition to the home, which was gutted by flames toward the rear, a camper, pickup truck, car and four motorcycles were all destroyed.

The fire is still under investigation, but Alvarado said it looks like it began near the washer and dryer.

He said it could have been worse, but fortunately the home had a tile roof instead of a shake one. It made it easier to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading.

Alice Saba, who owns the home, said her son was building an addition and the family thinks it may have been caused by an electrical problem.

Pete Wells, who lives directly behind the home on Glen Eyrie, said someone knocked on his door and said the house to the rear of his property was on fire.

"I could feel the heat when I walked out," said Wells, who has lived in his home for 26 years. "I thought it was just a matter of time before it spread."

The back of Wells' property is a forest of trees. He immediately began hosing everything down in his back yard. Firefighters kept the blaze from Wells' property.

Alex Saba, 12, had been with his mother and siblings getting a haircut and some frozen yogurt when they learned their father's home had caught on fire

He was across the street looking at the charred home when he said, "At least it's not the end of the world."