Multi-Agency Response Holds Vegetation Fire to Half Acre

Glenview-

On Thursday, October 13th, 2011 at 7:50am, the Heartland Communications Center started to receive multiple calls about a vegetation fire in the area of Highway 8 Business and Aurora Drive. The initial response included engines from Lakeside, El Cajon, and CalFire.

Firefighters from Lakeside and CalFire stop forward fire spread on Division Zulu.

On the arrival of Battalion 1 (Laff) a "large spot" of heavy vegetation was burning up slope through an open field that lies between the interstate and Highway 8 Business. Additional brush engines and aerial support was requested. This sent additional equipment from Lakeside, San Miguel Fire Districts, and Copter 10 and 12.

Initially progress was slow due to steep terrain, but crews later used ladders to access the fire area. Although weather conditions were ideal for a fire, the lack of winds kept the fire spread to a minimum. Eventually crews were able to stop forward progress at a half acre. Crews were then tasked with cutting a fire control line around the perimeter.

Witnesses were able to identify a suspect in connection with the fire. Sheriff deputies arrested the suspect near the scene.

Dispatched Lakeside units: E3 (Lake Jennings), BR26 (Blossom Valley), B1, BR2 (Eucalyptus Hills), 4103, El Cajon units: E8 (Madison Ave), CalFire units: 3382 (Flinn Springs), San Miguel units: BR23 (Dehesa Rd).

Submitted By: Fire Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District

What are Divisions?

Divisions are geographical segments of a vegetation fire. Breaking the fire down into these smaller segments makes managing the fire more effective as the Incident Commander only needs to communicate with a limited number of managers. As the fire grows in size additional Divisions can be assigned.

Typically when an initial commander pulls up to the fire the left flank is known as Alpha, while the right flank is called Zulu.... 

Lakeside Firefighters respond to House Fire

Winter Gardens -  On Tuesday August 16, 2011 Lakeside Fire crews were dispatched along with crews from San Miguel, El Cajon, and Santee to the report of a structure fire on Vista Del Cajon in the Winter Gardens area.  The initial dispatch reported that there was heavy black smoke coming from under the residence.  When San Miguel Engine 19 arrived on scene their report on conditions confirmed there was smoke rolling out from under the building.  Lakeside Engine 1 and Medic 1, from the Riverview station, were next on scene and laid a 4 supply line up to E19, who was actively engaging the fire.

Crew Stretch a hoseline into the structure

El Cajon Engine 8 was close behind E1 and moved up to assist E19 with fire attack.  Soon after the arrival of the first three units came Lakeside Battalion 1, El Cajon Engine 9, Santee Truck 4 and Cal Fire unit 3352.  Crews on scene had to remove all of the skirting around the residence to attack the fire that was burning under the structure.

A San Miguel, Lakeside, and El Cajon Engine are lined up

After several minutes of removing siding and spraying water on the flames the fire was suppressed.  The fire was held to the underside of the structure and kept from extending into the residence.  Nobody was injured in the fire and the cause is under investigation.

The damage from the fire was primarily under the residence

Story and Photos by Engineer / Paramedic Bernie Molloy.

Lakeside Firefighters Extinguish Small Grass Fire

Rios Canyon -

Heartland Fire Communications received numerous 911 calls for a fire in the vegetation at Pecan Park Lane and Rios Canyon Road just before noon on May 15, 2011. Firefighters from Lakeside's Lake Jennings fire station (fs3) were first on scene and quickly extinguished a large spot fire in the grass field.

The fire was caused by sparks from a power saw cutting metal posts. This incident is a good reminder that great care must be taken when using power tools around dry vegetation. There is an abundance of grass in Southern California this spring due to the winter rains we had. This fuel type is easily ignited and fire spreads very quickly through it.

Assisting agencies on this incident included El Cajon, CalFire, and San Diego Sheriff.

This fire spread quickly through the cured-grass fuels.

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

Candle Ignites Bedroom Fire in Glenview

Glenview: On Tuesday, January 18th 2010 at 1:38 PM, the Lakeside Fire District received a report of a fire in a mobile home in the 13400 block of Highway 8 Business. Five structural engines, one truck company, an ALS ambulance, and battalion chief were dispatched to the incident.

En-route crews were advised that the occupant had knocked over a candle and it had ignited combustibles in the room. But on arrival crews had very little evidence of a fire from the exterior. Battalion Chief Laff assumed command of the fire while crews from station #3 (Lake Jennings Station) made entry. Upon entering the interior crews found a smoking interior door with a very hot door knob.

Upon opening the door crews were met with a well involved bedroom fire. Crews were able to rapidly knock down the fire, but due to zero visibility crews needed additional help to conduct an interior search for victims. Additional personnel from Lakeside, El Cajon, and CalFire were assigned to the interior to look for victims. Fortunately no victims, or domestic animals, were located.

Fire damage was held to the one room, but extensive smoke damage made the occupancy uninhabitable.

Damage to the coach will probably exceed $20,000. A total of 12 personnel from Lakeside responded to the fire. Crews were assisted by crews from El Cajon Fire (E8-Madison Station), and CalFire (3382-Flinn Springs Station).

Submitted By: Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District
Photos By: Fire Engineer Carl Chiodo, Lakeside Fire 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 

Lakeside Firefighters Extinguish Small Vegetation Fire

Glenview:

Lakeside Firefighters were called to the 12900 block of Highway 8 Business just after 4:00 a.m. this morning for a vegetation fire. Lakeside Battalion 1 (Tockstein) directed crews from the Lake Jennings and Blossom Valley fire stations in corralling the small fire. Lakeside E3 and Br26 were assisted by El Cajon E8 and San Diego Sheriff's deputies. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

View Lakeside Incidents and Story Map in a larger map

Submitted by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire