Strike Team 6440C Reassigned to Rocky Fire

Lakeside, CA -

On Monday, August 3, 2015, Strike Team 6440C, Lakeside Fire's Brush 1 and 4107 (Capt Hisaw), was demobilized from the Willow Fire and reassigned to the Rocky Fire. The Rocky Fire has charred over 60,000 acres, destroyed 24 homes and 26 outbuildings. The fire started July 29th and is 12% contained. The area has no fire history and very heavy fuels. Mandatory evacuations are in place for over 5,530 homes. Fire official's are calling this fire unprecedented.

CAL FIRE is managing the wildfire and up-to-date information can be found here.

Post by M. Brown, LVG
Photo: CAL FIRE

Strike Team Mobilized for Willow Fire

Lakeside, CA -

Around 0100 last night Strike Team 6440C,  with Heartland resources including Lakeside Brush 1, was mobilized to aid in the fire attack on the Willow Fire (Sierra National Forest) located near Bass Lake and northeast of North Fork, California. The fire started July 25th and has affected 3,383 acres and is currently 30% contained. A total of 1,545 personnel are on the fire lines. Weather forecast today is for dry thunderstorms and possible monsoonal moisture Friday and Saturday. Personnel from Station 1 and assigned to Brush Rig 1 are Captain Ian Lowe, Engineer Shawn McKenna and Firefighter/Paramedic Brandon Battaglia. Captain John Hisaw is also assigned as a Strike Team trainee.

Post by M. Brown, LVG

Strike Team Dispatched to North Fire

Lakeside, CA -

BR-1 along with crews from Heartland Fire and Barona Fire have been sent to the North Fire (off 1-15) where the fire has burned 3,500 acres and is currently 5% contained.  Good luck to all personnel involved and stay safe!

For information on the fire, click here.

Update 7/19/15:

North Fire is now 60% contained and evacuations have been lifted. Strike Team is being demobilized and heading home.

Lakeside C-Division Training Day

Lakeside, Calif.

 On Sunday, March 22, 2015, the C-division firefighters from Lakeside fire stations 1 and 2 got together to drill on wildland fire operations. The crews practiced pump-and-roll, drafting, relay pumping, and water supply operations utilizing Brush 1 and Water Tender 7251.

 One of the most frequent questions we get from our citizens is "what do firefighters do during their workday."In today's fire service, firefighters have little "down time" during their shifts. Each day of the week comes with a routine that includes vehicle, apparatus, and station maintenance; fire prevention inspections, public education events, and obviously calls for service. One activity that happens virtually every day of the year is training.

Due to the "all-risk" nature of the modern American fire service, our firefighters must constantly train. We strive to maintain competencies in a wide range of areas including structural and wildland firefighting; technical rescue to include vehicle, rope, and water rescue; emergency medical services at the advance life support (paramedic) level; hazardous material, gas and electrical emergencies. Within each of these broad subject areas are myriad other competencies that need to be trained on.

The Lakeside Fire District has always prided itself on its training program and the professional competency of our personnel. As our district training motto states: we train for "Readiness, Safety, and Duty."

Engineer-PM Jon Jordan (r) and FF-PM Bing Tom train on Lakeside Brush 1.

Post and photo by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District

"Valley" and "Dunbar" Incidents

Shortly before 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 26, 2013, firefighters from multiple agencies were dispatched to reports of a vegetation fire along eastbound Interstate 8 just east of Greenfield Drive.  Initial reports stated the fire was about 1 acre in size  with a slow rate of spread.  Minutes later the fire grew rapidly as the wind picked up and pushed it up the hill toward homes on Lotus Ln.  Firefighters quickly responded to the area to defend homes.  Along with the air support from the firefighting helicopters and the quick deployment of fire crews into the area, no homes were lost and no one was hurt.  Firefighters worked well into the night to contain the fire and several fire crews remained on scene overnight to monitor the area.  The fire was estimated to be about 30 acres and the cause is still under investigation.

At the same time the Valley fire was being dispatched, another fire was reported along the right shoulder of eastbound Interstate 8 just before Dunbar Ln.  Multiple agencies were dispatched to this location at the same time as the Valley fire.  Both incidents shared the air resources and had quick action from ground crews to stop the forward progress and contain the fires without injuries or homes being lost.  The size of the Dunbar incident is unknown and is also under investigation.

Units from the Lakeside Fire Protection District on these incidents were Engine 2, Engine 3, Engine 26, Brush 1, Water Tender 7251, and Chiefs 4101, 4103, and 4105.

Other agencies were Cal Fire, El Cajon, Santee, U.S. Forest Service, Alpine, and Barona Fire.

Story and Photos By: Engineer Matt Buzzell

Firefighters Fight Multiple Vegetation Fires in Lakeside

Lakeside, CA -

Just after lunch, firefighters from Lakeside Fire Protection District and surrounding agencies were dispatched to a vegetation fire in the area of Crazy Horse Drive and James Hill Drive in Eucalyptus Hills.  Smoke could be scene from station 1 on Riverview Avenue.  Medic 2  was the first unit on scene and reported several acres on fire and structures threatened.  Battalion 3 and Lakeside Fire Division Chiefs arrived on scene quickly and directed units to the areas that need the most help, ordering multiple strike teams to assist.  Brush 1 was the first brush engine on scene and immediately started a progressive hose lay to extinguish and contain the fire.  With firefighters in place defending homes, crews attacking the flanks of the fire, and firefighting aircraft now making drops, the fire was being brought under control.  As more resources arrived to help the efforts on the ground firefighters were able to get a hose line all the way around the fire.  No homes were damaged and no injuries were reported.

While the first fire was being mopped up, a second fire was reported in El Monte Valley.  Aircraft and resources that were being released from the first fire quickly made their way over to the second fire and where able to keep it to a few acres.  Both fires are under investigation.

View Incident Map 2012 in a larger map

Units from Lakeside Fire were Brush 1, Medic 2, Engine 2, Engine 3, 4101, 4103, 4104, 4105, 4106, and 4140 (Lakeside LVGs).  Other agencies assisting were Santee, El Cajon, Cal Fire, Fish and Wildlife, and the USFS.

Story and Photos by: Engineer/Paramedic Matt Buzzell