HWY 67 Closed for Major Traffic Collision

Lakeside, CA -

On Friday May 30, 2014, at approximately 3:15 in the afternoon units were requested to respond to Hwy 67 northbound to reports of a head on collision just south of Winter Gardens Blvd.  Lakeside Engine 1 arrived on scene and found two vehicles with major damage, each of which had trapped victims inside.  Additional resources were immediately requested due to the large workload that would be required to extricate multiple patients from separate vehicles.

View 2014 Incident Map in a larger map

The incident, which was being directed by Lakeside Division Chief 4104, utilized engines from Lakeside, Santee, and El Cajon.  Two rescue units were also assigned, Santee R5 and Lakeside R3 from the Lake Jennings Fire Station.  The two patients were in critical condition meaning they would require separate transporting units so two ALS units were requested as well as Mercy Air 6.  

Crews work to extricate patients from separate vehicles

A large quantity of debris was strewn from the accident site

The accident scene was strewn with the contents of both vehicles, a sign of how much energy was involved in the collision.  Hwy 67 had to be completely closed due to the large volume of debris that resulting from the accident.  The closed freeway provided the ability for the fire and law enforcement crews to work safely while extricating the patients.  The road closure also allowed for a very close landing zone for Mercy Air 6.  It is rare to see a medical helicopter set down on a major interstate in San Diego County in the middle of rush hour traffic.  The helicopter, along with the seriousness of the accident, drew crowds of people to the side of the road to watch the incident.

One patient was extricated quickly and immediately transported by Santee Medic 4 to an area trauma center.  The other patient took longer to extricate so Mercy Air 6 was utilized to provide transport to the trauma center.  Once the patients were extricated and the incident was stabilized the California Highway Patrol took over the scene and began an accident investigation.

Mercy Air 6 set down on the closed portion of HWY 67

Photos / Video and Story by Captain Bernie Molloy

Vehicle Collides with Structure

Lakeside, CA -   On Friday May 17, 2013, Lakeside Firefighters were called to the scene of a vehicle that had collided with a structure in the downtown Lakeside Post office parking lot.  Lakeside Engine 2 and Engine 1 arrived on scene to investigate the incident.

The vehicle came to rest on the pylon 

It was determined that the vehicle was backing out of a parking spot when it collided with another vehicle and ended up on top of a concrete pylon.  The vehicle damaged the structure that houses the Curves Fitness Club.

The damage on the exterior extended to the inside of the building

There were no injuries involved in the incident.  CHP and SDSO were on scene to conduct the accident investigation.



Photos and Story by:  Captain Bernie Molloy, Lakeside Fire District

Firefighters Battle Blaze in Wrecking Yard

Lakeside: Firefighters were called today, February 25, 2013, to the 15200 block of Olde Hwy 80 for reports of several cars on fire in a wrecking yard.  As units left their stations there were several reports of a large column of smoke being visible from far away.  E26 was the first arriving unit, reporting there was a large area of fire and heavy smoke coming from the center of the wrecking yard.  E26 did a "driveway lay" into the yard and advanced into the property to investigate what exactly was on fire.  E2, which was the next unit to arrive, attached to E26's hose lay and advanced it to a hydrant 500 feet up the road.  This would ultimately be one of the 3 supply lines that were deployed on the fire.


 
E26 made their way into the middle of the property and found a large pile of wrecked vehicles that were engulfed in flame.   Adjacent the pile of vehicles there was a large container, roughly the size of a semi truck trailer, filled with used tires that were also on fire.  The fire load was extremely large so there was a great deal of smoke being produced when crews arrived.
As engines began arriving it was clear that this would be an operation that would require a tremendous quantity of water to suppress the fire.  Flowing simultaneously on this fire were two deck guns (capable of over 1,000 gpm each), the aerial from Santee Truck 4,  two 2.5” hoselines and two 1.75” line.  This collection of attack lines and devices were putting over 3,000 gallons of water per minute onto the fire, and it was still not going out quickly.
Once much of the fire had been knocked down it was decided that the best way to get at the remaining fire was to use tractors to pluck the cars off the pile, putting them down somewhere crews could extinguish them.  This went on for several hours as the fire slowly went out. This fire shows how effective the automatic aid agreements we have in place are.



The agencies involved were: Lakeside Fire, El Cajon Fire, Santee Fire, Alpine Fire, Cal Fire, San Diego County HazMat, San Diego City Fire HazMat the CHP and SDSO.  Some of these agencies were involved because of their proximity at the time of dispatch, others were involved because of their specialized training.  Working together with several agencies seamlessly is something fire agencies in San Diego County do better than almost anywhere else in the world.



This fire did not result in any injuries to civilians or firefighters.  It was determined that the areas immediately surrounding the fire should be evacuated to ensure the public’s safety.  Once the fire was extinguished all of the employees at the surrounding companies were able to return.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Story and Video by Captain Bernie Molloy
Photos By Engineer Shawn McKenna

Vehicle Crashes onto El Capitan Ball Field

Lakeside-

On Friday, September 2nd, 2011 at 3:07 a.m., the Lakeside Fire District received a call that a vehicle had left Ashwood Street and was now resting on the El Capitan High School baseball field. One structural engine, a rescue company, ALS medic unit, and battalion chief (Tockstein) were dispatched to the incident.

On the arrival of Battalion 1, he discovered a vehicle sitting in the middle of right field with an occupant still in the car. Engine 2 accessed the area and made contact with a sole occupant who had  minor complaints of pain. The occupant was evaluated by the paramedics assigned to Medic 3 and transported to Grossmont Hospital for further evaluation.

Fire personnel from Engine 2 and Medic 3 evaluate the only occupant in the vehicle.

Ironically, the car breached the fence at the same location of a previous incident, thus there was little new damage to the facility.  

CHP is currently investigating the accident. A total of 9 Lakeside Fire personnel responded to the early morning incident.

Submitted By: Fire Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire Protection District

Vehicle vs. Dumpster on Olde Highway 80

Flinn Springs: On Thursday, February 10th 2010 at 3:27 AM, the Lakeside Fire Protection District received a call of a vehicle accident on Olde Highway 80 near Chimney Rock Lane. An engine company, a rescue company, and an ALS ambulance were dispatched to the incident.

Fire Engineer-Paramedic Rich Smith surveys the damage to the vehicle.

Responding companies from the Lake Jennings station were initially confused when they came across a dumpster that had been impacted at a high rate of speed. The contents had been strewn across the roadway. Crews continued east on Olde Highway 80 an soon discovered a vehicle with moderate damage about 300 yards from the original impact area.

A welcome sight to firefighters. Both the driver side, and passenger side, airbags deployed leaving behind this signature fracture in the windshield.

Crews assessed a single occupant that had no medical complaints. Undoubtedly the fact that there was a airbag deployment contributed to the lack of injuries.

CHP responded to the incident and took the driver into custody. Crews returned to the impact area and assisted the homeowner with removing trash from the roadway.

A total of 8 Lakeside Fire personnel responded to this incident.

Submitted By: Fire Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District

Hit and Run Driver Creates Mess on Camino Canada

Glenview: On Monday, August 16th at 4:06 PM, the Lakeside Fire District dispatched an engine company to a report of flooding in the area of Camino Canada and Los Coches Rd. On the arrival of Engine 3 (Lake Jennings Station) the crew discovered water arching across the roadway from a large irrigation line that had been damaged.

Firefighter-Paramedic Bryan Peters inspects a leak on a large irrigation pipe. Crews quickly shut down the leak.

Witnesses state a vehicle struck the water line and left the area. A master control box for the areas irrigation was also damaged.

Crews were able to shut down the water and refer the matter to the local development agency. CHP is investigating the incident. If you have information about this incident please contact the El Cajon CHP office.

Submitted By: Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire Protection District

Suspicious Fires in the Los Coches Area

Update: On 7/30/10 an arrest was made in this case.


Glenview: On Thursday, July 29th at 10:37 PM, two structural engines, a brush engine, an ALS medic unit, and a battalion chief were dispatched to the area of Los Coches Rd and Interstate 8 for a vegetation fire. Engine 8 (El Cajon-Madison) arrived and found a large spot burning between the eastbound lanes and the off-ramp to Los Coches Rd.

A CalFire firefighter looks of the origin-cause of the fire. 

Crews were able to quickly knock down the fire and cut a line around it. Additional investigators were called into the area as there has been a rash of suspicious fires in the area. Many of the reporting parties indicated the fires may have been started by an aerial flare.

If you have information, or have witnessed suspicious activity in the area please call Lakeside Fire Prevention at (619)-390-2350.

Lakeside crews were assisted by El Cajon Fire, CalFire, CHP and SDSO

Submitted By: Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District