A good Samaritan was chopping downed trees in his San Jose neighborhood after heavy wind storms on Tuesday evening, when his own Christmas tree burst into flames, displacing him and his roommate.
San Jose Fire Captain Mitch Matlow said the man, who was trying to help out in the 3000 block of Seven Trees Boulevard about 8:30 p.m., went into his apartment for a quick drink to quench his thirst as he was trying to cut away the downed trees, which were knocked down because of Tuesday's heavy wind storms.
The man had several candles lit around his condominium and the fireplace was on - as this neighborhood, along with many others around the Bay Area had lost power because of the winds. One of the man's animals which was "running around" the condo likely knocked over one of the candles, Matlow said, which probably started the fire.
The man was able to put most of the fire out with a garden hose, Matlow said, before firefighters arrived. The man and his roommate had to find another place to sleep, and one other resident of the complex went to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
