House Fire Consumes Childhood Home

A residential fire broke out on Saturday afternoon in the Zanker Elementary neighborhood that left three people without a home.

Hilfonso Starling, who attended Zanker Elementary, Rancho and Milpitas High during his childhood, was at home with his girlfriend when they noticed smoke.

The fire started in his brother's room on the second floor, he said.  Starling tried to put it out with an extinguisher upstairs and then later with a water hose until firefighters pulled him out.

"I really thought it was a small little thing," he said. But then he saw smoke coming downstairs. Within a short period of time, the flames ravaged the roof and caused the glass windows to explode in one room.

A neighbor called for help, said Starling. The fire department reported receiving the alarm around 2:53 p.m.

The fire was under control in 40 minutes, according to Battalion Chief Scott Brown. While Milpitas police evacuated residents from homes nearby, firefighters from San Jose and Fremont assisted the Milpitas Fire Department.

It took 28 firefighters, four engine companies, one Mobile Command Unit, three ladder trucks, one Urban Search and Rescue Unit and 5 police officers. Assistance was also received from the Santa Clara County Fire Associates, American Red Cross, and PG & E. 

"It was ugly in there," said Starling. "They ran up in there, did what they did, and saved my house," he said. He commended the fire department several times.

"I wanted to shake every firefighters hand and say 'thank you very much'," he said. Starling, who is staying in a nearby hotel with the assistance of the Red Cross said he wanted to volunteer in the future.

"I want to be a volunteer for people who've been through situations like this," he said.

After Starling's parents retired and moved to Las Vegas, leaving the house to him and his brother, he estimates he spent $30,000-$40,000 fixing it up "with his own two hands" and the assistance of neighbors.

"The downstairs was immaculate," he said. Two 150-gallon aquariums with African and North American Cichlids and turtles were spared. 

"I would have been crushed if I lost my fish," he said. An extension cord is running from a next door neighbors house to power the tanks.

What was lost was memories stored in the attic, he said. Baseball cards to photos, heirlooms and his mom's jewelry perished in the fire, he said.