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Firefighters Seek Donations for Families Displaced by Apartment House Fire

The Alameda Firefighters Association IAFF Local 689, along with the Alameda Fire Managers Association are seeking donations to provide relief to the families displaced by the December 17th Apartment House fire on Shorepoint Court.

New or gently used household items, gift cards and toys can be dropped off at Fire Station 1, 2401 Encinal Ave. between 8am and 8pm until Saturday, December 24, (Christmas Eve).

For toys, please drop off new, unwrapped toys for toddler boys and girls under age 10.

Any donations remaining after distribution to the families displaced by the Shorepoint Court fire will be donated to the Midway Women’s Shelter and the Red Cross.

The Alameda Firefighters and Fire Managers thank you in advance for helping us to help others.

Shorepoint Court Fire Summary & AFD Donation Drive
December 22, 2011


Summary of Shorepoint Court Fire and AFD Conducts Donation Drive for Displaced Families

At approximately 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 17, 2011, the Alameda Fire Department (AFD) responded to a four-alarm blaze at 901 Shorepoint Court. “All in all, this was a successful response,” said AFD Fire Chief Mike D’Orazi. “No residents were injured, no firefighters were injured.” While some pets did not survive, many did make it out of the building.

The fire was suppressed in less than three hours. The AFD Investigation Team suspects that an electric space heater in a bedroom caused the fire. The investigation is ongoing. Eight units in the 18 unit building suffered severe damage. The entire building is damaged from fire, smoke, and water. Property loss was estimated at $1.5 million. Costs to fight the fire are estimated at $55K.

All 18 units’ residents were displaced. Additionally, all residents of the neighboring 18 unit building at 909 Shorepoint Court have also been displaced due to water, gas, and electricity cut-off. All the impacted families have been offered assistance by the Red Cross.

Division Chief Matthew Tunney, who was the Incident Commander, called for three Mutual Aid Structure Response (MASR) teams from surrounding jurisdictions. Each MASR consists of three fire engines, one fire truck (with ladder and rescue equipment), and one chief. One MASR team was used for station coverage. The MASR’s were:
MASR 1- Oakland Fire Department.
MASR 2- Alameda County Fire Department.
MASR 3- Berkeley Fire, Alameda County Fire, and Emeryville Fire Departments.

Approximately 20 off-duty AFD firefighters were called in to relieve the other departments that came as the MASR.

Tunney also called for an Emergency Management Overhead Team. Chief Officers from Piedmont Fire, Orinda/Moraga Fire, San Ramon Valley Fire District, Alameda County Fire, Fremont Fire, and El Cerrito Fire departments arrived on scene to assist.

Finally, Tunney requested back-up from Paramedics Plus. “When all of our ambulances staffed by firefighters are needed in the fire fight, I call for additional ambulances for both citizen and firefighter safety,” Tunney said.

Alameda Police were immediately on scene to redirect traffic, maintain order for the residents and onlookers, and prevent the public and media from interfering with firefighters’ work. Alameda Municipal Power, as well as PG&E, also arrived on scene to shut off power. Alameda Senior Building Inspector Fred Harms arrived to inspect the properties and ultimately had to seal off the buildings.

AFD Donation Drive


The Alameda Firefighters Association and the Alameda Fire Managers Association are seeking donations to provide relief to the families displaced by the fire.

Gift cards, new toys, and new or gently used household items can be dropped off at Fire Station One at 2401 Encinal Avenue, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., until Saturday, December 24, 2011. The firefighters plan to distribute the donations Saturday morning.

For toys, please drop off new, unwrapped items for toddler boys and girls under age 10.
Any donations remaining after distribution to the Shorepoint Court families will be donated to the Midway Women’s Shelter and the Red Cross.

“Given this time of year, our staff just couldn’t resist helping after the fire,” said Chief Mike D’Orazi.
“The Alameda Firefighters and Fire Managers thank the community in advance for helping us to help others,” said Domenick Weaver, the Association’s President.


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