San Jose Airport Fire: Four Acre Blaze Breaks Out Near Mineta International

A four-acre vegetation fire erupted near San Jose Mineta International Airport on Saturday afternoon, causing disruptions to local traffic. According to authorities, the fire started around Hedding and Spring Streets, just south of the airport. The incident was originally reported at 1:48 p.m., and firefighters were quickly deployed to the area. Firefighters got the fire under control by 2:55 p.m., but they kept mopping up to ensure it was completely extinguished. Authorities stated that no structural damage or injuries occurred as a result of the event. The San Jose Fire Department provided updates on social media, telling the public about the current situation and the impact on adjacent highways. Traffic was disrupted since numerous streets in the region were temporarily closed to guarantee the safety of both responders and homeowners.The event was part of a larger sequence of firefighting operations across the region, as fire firefighters were stretched thin owing to many fires burning in California. Just two days before, eight Orange County firefighters were hurt in a separate incident when a fire utility vehicle flipped over as they were returning from a shift fighting the Airport Fire. The collision involving Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) firefighters happened approximately 6:50 p.m. on the northbound 241 Toll Road, near Portola Avenue. According to authorities, the firetruck crashed with a railing after swerving to avoid a roadside ladder. The vehicle toppled, badly wounding six firefighters.A neighboring OCFA crew arrived on the scene in minutes and quickly began providing emergency care to their injured colleagues. Nine paramedic units, 12 ambulances, and three helicopters were deployed to the disaster scene to provide assistance. Seven firemen were taken to local hospitals by ambulance, and one was flown by an OCFA helicopter. According to California Highway Patrol investigations, the fire utility truck and another vehicle swerved to avoid an impediment in the road, resulting in the accident. Two of the eight firefighters involved had minor injuries, while six were critically injured.At the time of the accident, the firemen were returning after a 12-hour shift fighting the Airport Fire, which had charred thousands of acres in Orange and Riverside counties in the days before. The Airport Fire grew further, stressing the region's firefighting resources. Firefighters who responded to the collision were later given a critical event stress debriefing at OCFA headquarters. Fire Chief Brian Fennessy remarked that the incident was extremely upsetting for the afflicted firemen and their coworkers. He asked the people to keep the injured firemen and their families in their thoughts.