Crews knock down two-alarm fire in San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KTVU) -- Residents of several mobile home parks along Oakland Road in San Jose watched flames threaten their houses Wednesday evening before firefighters managed to control the blaze.

San Jose fire crews spent more than an hour and a half putting out the two-alarm vegetation fire that swept down a creek bed, past a homeless encampment and sent embers flying through the air.

About 50-60 firefighters were called to the Golden Wheel Mobile Home Park and the South Bay Mobile Home Park about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

When they arrived, they say they discovered that there were no fire hydrants nearby. Crews called in special trucks called water tenders which carry thousands of gallons of water.

"They're basically a fire hydrants on wheels. For us, when we come to areas like this, then we have this 3,000 gallon tank that we put on wheels and we have about three of them in the city," said San Jose Fire Captain Fernando Munoz.

Fire crews say the fire was burning on very difficult terrain alongside a creek that was completely dry. Also, due to the drought, the trees and other vegetation nearby were dry and caught fire quickly.

Capt. Munoz says it took crews more than an hour and a half to get the fire out.

Residents were worried and some say they even started packing their things in case they had to leave.

"I'm so worried, I had my things to get ready to move out." said area resident Vicente Olmos.

"I was standing in my house and I could feel the flames. Like, it was huge! It was a big fire," said Brandon Delapaz, another resident.

Crews and residents were concerned about the embers that were blowing from the trees. Some residents hosed down their rooftops and yards. Capt. Munoz said one good thing was that the wind wasn't so strong.

There was a homeless encampment in the path of the fire and crews say they concentrated their efforts on that area. Firefighters say some tents burned but no one was injured and no homes were damaged.

Fire crews plan to be at the site all night keeping watch.