December 2011

A three-alarm fire at an apartment complex in Alameda forced 26 families from their homes this afternoon and caused an estimated $1.5 million in damages, officials said. The fire, which broke out just before noon at 909 Shorepoint Court near Westline Drive, heavily damaged eight units of an 18-unit apartment wing, said Division Chief Daren [...]

Murrieta firefighter paramedic Landon Hill said it has been difficult watching fellow firefighter paramedic Dean Hale fight his stage four non-small cell lung cancer this year. “It’s been rough,” Hill said. “He’s such a fighter.”

SAN LEANDRO — A one-bedroom apartment sustained about $5,000 in damages from a kitchen fire Thursday night, an Alameda County fire official said. No injuries were reported. About 20 firefighters responded to a 10:39 p.m. call and discovered smoke billowing from the second-floor apartment, which sits above a commercial unit at 13605 136th Avenue, Battalion [...]

While watching Santa wave from the top of one of Lodi’s firetrucks, local residents can also help feed those in need by donating non-perishable items. Lodi firefighters have run the annual Santa tours since Dec. 5 and already collected several hundred pounds of cereal, soup, noodles, beans and baby food, Capt. Todd Luke said.