Tracy Press

 
Tracy fire crews put out an attic fire at 11 a.m. today at 240 Highland Ave. within about 15 minutes. No one was injured. Mid-afternoon, crews are back at the same house to put out a fire.

A firefighter climbs to roof of the house to reach the attic. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

Pacific Gas & Electricity Co. shut off gas and power to the 240 E. Highland Ave. house after the first blaze, but air blown through scorched vents possibly ignited smoldering insulation leftover from the earlier fire, Division Chief Dave Bramell said.

The 60-plus-year-old one-story home across East Street from Tracy High School has an old wood shake roof under newer composite shingles, explained Bramell. The extra dry, flammable layer apparently made it tough for firefighters to thoroughly douse the first blaze, he said.

Homeowner of 15 years Edna Landucci, 81, said she hardly noticed the smoke both times. Neither, she added, did her pet Chihuahua-mix pup Luke.

“I was just in my bedroom,” she said. “I couldn’t really tell it was burning that bad. It took me a while to smell the smoke.”

But Anna Chase, who was visiting Landucci’s down-the-street neighbors during the first fire, said she saw smoke billowing through the attic vents.

When she rushed inside, she said, the smoke had permeated the entire house. But none triggered the apparently defunct fire alarm, she noted.

“I don’t know how she didn’t notice all that smoke before it got that thick in there,” she said after the second fire. “That’s pretty scary to think about.”

Chase called 9-1-1 both times.

Landucci’s daughter took her mother to her house when she found out about the second fire shortly before 3 p.m.

Landucci asked the firefighters to save her family photos “before things really started going,” she said, resting in her daughter’s SUV after a hectic afternoon.

A fireman obliged, rushing out with an armful of albums.

“And that’s the most important thing, because photos you can’t replace,” she said.

Homeowners insurance will cover the damage, said Landucci, though she’s still unsure how much money it will cost to repair.

“That’s some serious damage though,” she lamented, staring at the side of her scorched house. “That’s the roof, the ceiling, the exterior. Not to mention the wiring. But at least I’m OK.”

It’ll be about a month before Landucci can move back in, she said.

Firefighters put out the first fire in 15 minutes and spent twice as long making sure the second fire was out before calling it quits, Bramell said.

• To reach Tracy Press reporter Jennifer Wadsworth, call 830-4225 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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written by truthteller , August 05, 2008

wow glad that shes ok as well as the fireman who was willing to go back into the house, locate and bring out the tresured photo albums.

WOuldnt it be great if she could apply for that housing loan ive seen on the public access..30 years to repay etc...the house is old enough and it would sure help cover anything the insurance dosnt have

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written by tracymom , August 05, 2008

It would be great, but I bet that she can't since it's not considered the "downtown" area. Worth shot though!

Good looking out from the neighbor; without her quick action, we could have lost Mrs. Landucci as well as her puppy, and kudos to the firemen for rescuing her albums!

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written by Gary , August 06, 2008

What? 'Sorry your house burned down because we left and didn't ensure it was safe or that the fire would not reignite, but go ahead and call us all heros for saving some photo albums.'

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written by amy , August 06, 2008

Thank goodness for caring watchful neighbor! Thanks for the humanity shown in preserving the most sentimental, irreplaceable possession-photos of life memories.
Glad she is still with her family.

-amy

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written by Dave Hardesty , August 06, 2008

Gary

It's apparent you know nothing about firefighting.

In stead of complaining about them why don't you contact this elderly woman and try to help her through this difficult time in her life. It would probably be more good than fingering out the firefighters who daily put their lives on the line to protect people like yourself.

Dave Hardesty

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written by fortheunderdog , August 06, 2008

Dave,

Gary has a good point. Those firefighters are professionals. They should know that any fire can re-ignite. This is not a Monday morning quarterback comment. It appears from the photo that the 60 yr old home has been remodeled. Extra caution could have been taken to assure that the fire in the attic was out, especially within the insulation. PG&E shut off electricity/gas, so their part was done. It's ok to say you made a mistake. Everyone does. Not taking away any of the accolades from the firefighters for their actions putting out other fires, just saying that it appears the smoldering insulation may have been overlooked.

Gary's comment does have a tone of sarcasm to it though.

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written by sunbeach , August 06, 2008

Hi Everyone,
thanks for all the feedback, my Mom doesn't blame anyone, the firefighters did a great job, the first time they came out, they really went through the roof and removed the ceiling in the bedroom to try and make sure everything was out, but, we are guessing that
the insulation way on the other side of the house must have caught fire from a wire that ran along the roof, we still don't know. Gary, I know how you feel..believe me, but they did what they could at the time. The pictures they recovered, mean everything, she's 81, doesn't have much family left, so to have those, was very important to her
Thanks again
Joanne Landucci

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written by Dave Hardesty , August 06, 2008

fortheunderdog

Could have, should have but apparently didn't get done for one reason or another.

But it was Gary's sarcasm I was specifically addressing. Fires are no easy thing to deal with. Sometimes a small spark can smolder undetected for days and then flare up. People who have had training and have fought fires know this and do everything they can reasonably do to prevent flash fires from reoccuring again.

Want firefighters to spend more time watching for these sorts of things? Then they need more people and more equipment and more money so they can do the job more effictively. And I don't see very many people reaching into their pockets to alleviate the situation. But I do see a lot of mindless and meaningless complaints by arm chair quarterbacks that continually live in their own little perfect worlds of fanticy while castigating the people who are out there to save their miserable hides when the chips are down and it thoroughly disgusts me.

Sorry, but unless you have been in the situation you really have no idea as to what these guys daily go through as they attempt to save property and lives.

Try this. Next time you hear a siren, pray for their safety and pray for the person they are rushing to help. When they need help then help them.

No one is much thinking about the needs of the elderly woman who lived in that house other than they saved her photos. That's nice and great and very compassionate. But there are a whole lot of other unmet needs she's going to have until her life is back to normal.

But lets critise the firefighters for the job they do for all of us.

Dave Hardesty

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written by fortheunderdog , August 06, 2008

"Sorry, but unless you have been in the situation you really have no idea as to what these guys daily go through as they attempt to save property and lives."

I know what they go through, I used to beat them to their calls when I was working. Once had to enter residence with smoke billowing out to find an elderly female hiding in a downstairs bathroom. Was jokingly told by firefighters, when they arrived, that I should have waited for a Scott pack.

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written by Gary , August 06, 2008

Dave,      It is apparent you are expert on EVERYTHING.  Is not their job to ensure a fire is out once they respond?  Would you just sit there while your house is going up for a second time?  Was there a little sarcasm?  Sure was, and if that offended you, time to thicken up your skin a little, Dave.  Honestly, Dave, wouldn't you be upset if this was your house?  And to stretch it out a little bit further, say someone in your family was run over by a fire truck racing to this fire, that should have been taken care of the first time.
As far as manpower, call up some of those reserves. Dave, tell us how was when you where a fireman or when you were a cop, you seem to be such an expert on both.

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written by Dave Hardesty , August 06, 2008

Gary

Every US Navy sailor in basic training receives a lot of hands on firefighting training. It's something, unless you are totally dumb, that you don't easily forget.

I went through two weeks of training in basic training years ago at Camp Pendleton followed up by a one month firefighting and NBC school on Treasure Island, where we were taught, hands on, all sorts of ways to extinguish fires. That training not only saved my life but hundreds of lives of fellow sailors as a result of combat aircraft crashing into our decks off the cost of Vietnam. When you man a fire hose no one cares much about your rate or your rank because the number one priority is to get the fire out to save lives and the ship.

I also provided volunteer services to Tracy PD for about six years and patrolled with the officers instead of complaining about them incessantly.

I have also rendered emergency aid to automobile crash victims and have prevented several deaths as well, being trained in first aide and rescue breathing.

You may have had no experience in any of these things and are therefore ignorant of what really goes on behind the scenes. But your lack of exposure to these things does not mean that others like me have not had those experiences and don't know what goes on behind the scenes.

So believe what you will and insult what you will. Ask the professionals what they think and just perhaps you can learn something and stop being so utterly stupid for once in your life.

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written by Dave Hardesty , August 06, 2008

I, for one, am sick and tired of morons and their cute statements continually denigrating those who serve and protect every citizen in Tracy the best they can.

Next time your home catches fire, someone breaks into your home and holds you hostage or someone rushes to your aide to remove the olive pit you accidentally got caught in your windpipe, I hope you can recall how you and people like you have made fun of them and denigrated them as they willingly save your life or the life of someone you love.

You want them to hang on a fire watch all day? Then give them the proper resources to do it. Until you have stepped into their shoes you have no idea what sorts of problems they have on a day to day basis.

There, is that the response you were looking for from me.

Dave Hardesty

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written by sunbeach , August 06, 2008

Dave and Gary,

Take this somewhere else....not appropriate, I guess you both have forgotten that this story is about my Mother's house fire...???

Joanne Landucci

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written by maybenotdumBcommenT , August 06, 2008

It my be that the electricity was left on so they could come back and clean up. Fire investigators are very vigilant. Old wires can heat up and we set fire again. Once it starts it should be all pulled out and newer stuff put in

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written by maybenotdumBcommenT , August 06, 2008

Joanne Landucci, They are like this. You should check out how thy butchered the police blotters making fun of other people.

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written by Gary , August 07, 2008

Dave,

It is apparent you did not appreciate my sarcasm, but you have no right to cast stones towards someone you know absolutley nothing about. All told I have served for some 28 years between the Military and Civil Service, but I do not need to air my autobiography here to defend myself. My opinion on this incident differs from yours, obviously, but unless someone has changed what our founding fathers have established, I can say it, as can you.

Dave, have yourself a nice day!

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written by amy , August 07, 2008

sunbeach, I hope your mother is not so traumatized by this experience. Thank goodness for your neighbor who spotted the flames, most people die in their sleep due to smoke. Your mom is still with you and I am so thankful for that!

If the loss is great, Interfaith Ministery could help replace some of the items perished in the flames.

God Bless.
-amy

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written by Dave Hardesty , August 07, 2008

sunbeach

I personally checked this situation out today Joanne and not by contacting you.

I found out this woman is being adequately cared for by your family and that she doesn't need much help other than our sympathy she suffered the loss.

I am not being unsympathetic towards your mom and did take my personal time to investigate to see she is being adequately tended to. Did anyone else do that? Perhaps and I hope so but I seriously doubt many did.

Dave Hardesty

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written by Dave Hardesty , August 07, 2008

Gary

No, you are right, I didn't appreciate your sarcastic attack against me. And that is why I responded to you in kind.

Take a look at your first comment directed towards me and see if you were the first to bring up my credablity or was it me?

Tell you what, you stop with sarcastic remarks and I will respond in kind.

Yes, according to the will of our founding Fathers you have the right under the Constitution to say what's on your mind. But that doesn't offer you protection from others, like my self, from excercising our same Constitutional rights to respond.

Think about this and I am sure you, being an intellegent man, can see where this particular train of thought started.

And seriously without sarcasm, I do hope you have a nice day. Not empty words but a well intentioned statement.

Dave Hardesty

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written by Christine Cunningham , August 08, 2008

I am Christine Cunningham (Landucci), Mrs. Landucci's Daughter who was with her at the fire. I want to say Mom is doing well considering.
Our Family wants to THANK EVERYONE for their concern and help, Anna Chase who called 911 twice(1st time got my Mom out of the house), John & Stephanie Palmer, Tracy Fire Department (I will never forget the Fireman who carried out my Mom's family photos & my Mom watching him coming out of the house w/ those boxes, the Chief who kept us up updated continuously), Tracy Police Dept, American ER Amubulance standing by, Leanor Arnaudo, all neighbors on E. Highland, other neighbors from adjoining streets, my son, Jared Cunningham's Dad, Thomas Cunningham coming by, my boyfriend staying countless hours with Tracy Fire Dept, Farmers insurance company taking care of our Mom immediately, Service Masters, contractors, and all others who helped.God Bless You All
The Landucci Family

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written by sunbeach , August 08, 2008

Hi Everyone,

Dave Thanks for checking on my Mom, she is doing better, still in shock, my Sister is taking great care of her. It's going to be tougher I think as the days go on, they are in the process of tearing the house apart, and seeing that, we all felt very lucky that she wasn't in the house when the fire really took off. Seeing the roof off, the walls down, floor being removed, you can really see how much damage there is. Again, Thanks for all your
support..When this is all done, it would be great to have you all come by and see it finished, she will have a brand new house when it's done
Talk to you soon
Jo