Published on July 08, 2020
Menlo Park Fire Protection District
4TH of July - Recap
Firefighters respond to a structure fire in Menlo Park and several
small grass fires in East Palo Alto
The Fire Chief said “we lost the messaging campaign, but I’m thankful we didn’t have more fires given that the situation was totally out of control and the worst year I’ve experienced in my 40 years on the job”
An electronic safety sign and message at Ivy Drive and Willow Road in the Belle Haven neighborhood of Menlo Park appropriately speaks to this years
frustrations, contradictions and absolute messaging and compliance failure felt across the region – Credit Menlo Fire
The Menlo Park Fire Protection District, provides critical fire and emergency services to its areas in the Town of Atherton, Cities of East Palo Alto and Menlo Park, unincorporated San Mateo County and the SLAC National Accelerator and Laboratories. 100 firefighters spread over three shifts respond from seven fire stations. Despite the distribution of thousands of flyers, door hangers and a District wide mailer letting people know that fireworks were illegal, this year’s fireworks activities started long before the 4th of July and the type, quantity and lethality of the devices actually used on Independence day itself were the most prolific ever seen or experienced before.
Fire Chief Schapelhouman said “in my forty years with the Fire District, this was the worst I’ve ever seen it. From a fireworks are illegal and dangerous messaging and prevention campaign stand point, it was an almost total failure! Clearly a lot of people seemed to just not care. That said, I am grateful that the number of actual fire and medical incidents was amazingly small compared to the total number of illegal fireworks being used, especially the ground mortars being used for aerial shows all over the City of East Palo Alto and in some areas of Menlo Park, like Belle Haven and unincorporated County areas like North Fair Oaks”.
Structure Fire - On July 4th, San Mateo County Public Safety Communications Center (PSC) received multiple calls of a building on fire in the 1300 block of Sevier Drive in Menlo Park at 7.50 pm. Rescue 77 reported smoke showing from the Fire Station with Engine 77 arriving on-scene at 7.53 pm. Captain Eggimann advised that they had what appeared to be a well involved detached garage fire behind a residence. He radioed that they would be aggressively attacking the fire so it would not spread to the house.
A detached garage was converted into living space without permits on Sevier Avenue in Menlo Park, the structure burned on July 4th – Credit Menlo Fire
A total of four Fire Engines, a Rescue, Ladder Truck and two Battalion Chiefs with 20 total personnel quickly brought the fire under control by 8.03 pm. Three Fire Investigators responded to the incident. Fire Marshal Jon Johnston noted that used and unused fireworks were laying all around the structure. Despite assertions by the occupants that fireworks were not a factor, no other cause could be found and the origin of the fire appears to be a small burn hole through the roof. The garage had been converted to living space without permits and one family member was displaced. The estimated structural loss was $30,000 with an additional $10,000 for contents. Fire Investigators completed their preliminary review by 11 pm.
Short video clips:
9 second video of the Ivy Drive Fireworks sign in Menlo Park – See attachment
Three short fireworks in East Palo Alto video clips from the 4th of July
https://www.facebook.com/100020309587638/posts/565889920764656/?d=n
https://www.facebook.com/100020309587638/posts/565908910762757/?d=n
https://www.facebook.com/100020309587638/posts/565944930759155/?d=n
For more information from the Fire District please go to our web-site at www@menlofire.org: or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Next Door
Please contact me with any questions.