*This is a special feature from the City of San José, Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services
On October 25, the San José Fire Department responded to a vegetation fire that broke out on Singleton Field near Capitol Expressway and Tuers Road. The fire was sparked when embers traveled over eight lanes of traffic onto the field. The flames posed a risk to many lives and nearby properties, igniting a 40-foot stretch of the field.
Luckily, the Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department’s diligent work in clearing and maintaining the field's vegetation played a crucial role in preventing the fire from spreading. By reducing the amount of flammable material, firefighters were able to contain the flames.
Maintaining San José’s landscapes improves public safety.
“The vegetation had been cut back around nearby homes, and the overall fire fuel load had been reduced, which significantly decreased the fire's intensity,” said SJFD Fire Captain Anthony Ibarra. “This allowed our crews to safely and effectively extinguish the fire.”
The PRNS department takes pride in maintaining San José’s public spaces. Through consistent fuel mitigation and weed abatement work, PRNS helps to enhance our parks and reduce the risk of wildfires. These efforts not only protect our community but also contribute to the overall health and beauty of our parks and open spaces.
Controlled burns help reduce fuel loads and promote healthier ecosystems.
In a letter to the PRNS department, Ibarra said, “Your proactive efforts played a key role in saving both property and potentially lives.”
We appreciate the brave firefighters who risk their lives to protect our communities. Their quick response combined with the proactive efforts of PRNS helped to minimize the impact of the fire and protect San José residents.
To learn more about the San José Fire Department, visit
sjfd.org.
The
ActivateSJ Strategic Plan is the City of San José's Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) plan to maintain, improve and expand our facilities, programs, and services. The plan guides how we care for and develop a diverse park system and an abundance of recreation programs and services for all in San José.
ActivateSJ’s mission is to connect people through parks, recreation, and neighborhood services for an active San José. To learn more about our department’s plan and vision to move forward, visit
activatesj.org.