Vehicle Accident Closes Oak Creek Drive

Eucalyptus Hills:

On Saturday September 14, 2013 Firefighters from Lakeside Station 2 were called to the reports of a vehicle accident involving a power pole.  When Engine 2 arrived at the scene it was confirmed that there was an SUV that had collided with a utility pole.  The vehicle had sheared the pole off at it's base and it was being supported by the overhead wires, the vehicle, and a concrete column.

The pole being broken meant that the overhead power lines were not supported, so a section of Oak Creek Dr had to be closed until the power pole could be supported.  The vehicle also had to be left in place until the pole could be supported so the risk of the wires coming down would be lessened.

SDG&E arrived on scene to begin the repairs once they had the resources available.  The repairs to the pole are expected to go on through this evening.  The driver of the vehicle sustained minor injuries.  CHP is conducting an investigation into the cause of the accident.

SDG&E supported the pole to begin the repairs

Once the car was removed the damage could be seen.

View 2013 Incident Map in a larger map

Photos and Story by Captain Bernie Molloy

Motorhome Consumed By Fire In Lakeside

Engine 1 upon first arrival.

Eucalyptus Hills-

At 9:11 a.m. on Saturday, June 9, 2012, Lakeside firefighters were dispatched to a large vehicle fire in the Eucalyptus Hills neighborhood. It was reported that a motor-home was completely engulfed in flames. A large column of black smoke could be seen from a distance. Engine 2 from the nearby River Park station, as well as Engine 1 and Division Chief 4106(Kirkpatrick) were dispatched to the emergency. While the crew of Engine 2 was stepping into full protective firefighting gear preparing to respond, a vehicle pulled up in front of the fire station. The driver stepped out and identified himself as a burn victim from the reported fire. The crew quickly switched gears and began to treat the burn victim. This was immediately reported to Heartland dispatch and an ambulance was started to Station 2 as well as an additional engine was assigned to the fire to replace Engine 2. Santee Engine 4 was added to the call.

Engine 1 Firefighter Shawn McKenna initiating fire attack.

Upon arrival to the fire, Lakeside Engine 1 reported a large motor-home fully involved in fire with the potential of flames spreading to nearby vegetation. Engine 1 crew quickly pulled an attack line and began the fire fight. Because of the large size of the vehicle and the amount of fire involvement, a water supply from the closest hydrant was requested immediately. Santee Engine 4 arrived at scene soon thereafter to lay a large diameter supply line from a hydrant down the street up the long driveway to Engine 1. Division Chief 4106 arrived to take over incident command. The fire was knocked back before it was able to get established in the vegetation surrounding the motor-home. With an adequate water supply secured, the fire was soon fully extinguished.

Engine 2 Captain John Hisaw, FF McKenna, and Reserve FF Zauss finish extinguishment.

After Engine 2 was able to turn the burn victim over to Medic 2 for transport to the hospital, they were able to respond to the fire scene to assist with overhaul. Incident support was provided by the Lakeside Logistics Volunteer Group. San Diego Sheriff arson investigators were called to the scene to determine the cause of the blaze which is still under investigation. The burn victim was transported to the UCSD Burn Center by Medic 2.

Crews were successful in keeping the fire from the surrounding vegetation.

View Incident Map 2012 in a larger map

Submitted By: Chuck Palmore, Lakeside Fire Captain
Photos By: Todd Welch, Lakeside Firefighter

Lakeside Engine 2 Responds To Power Lines Down

Eucalyptus Hills, CA -

Lakeside firefighters responded to a report of power lines down on Wednesday, April 11, 2012, in the area of Eucalyptus Hills Drive and Pinehurst Drive. Once in the reported area, the crew from Lakeside Engine 2 found that a Pepper tree had fallen onto the electric and telephone service loops of a private residence just west of the intersection. This caused the power pole supporting these lines to snap and drop the lines onto the ground and into the path of traffic on Eucalyptus Hills Drive.

Lakeside Firefighter directs traffic.

Once the Engine 2 captain surveyed the situation, a request was made for CHP and SDG&E to respond. Engine 2's personnel then isolated the incident and denied entry to civilians until the scene could be made safe by SDG&E.

An SDG&E linesman goes to work.

Story and Photos by: Lakeside Fire Engineer Carl Chiodo

Vehicle Vs. Tree in Eucalyptus Hills

Eucalyptus Hills-

On Thursday, July 21, 2011, at 6:35a.m., the Lakeside Fire District received calls that a vehicle had left the roadway and impacted a tree in the 11400 block of Valle Vista Rd. A structural engine, rescue company, and ALS paramedic unit were dispatched to the incident.

On the arrival of Engine 2 (Eucalyptus Hills fire station), firefighters discovered a severely damaged vehicle with a single occupant who had sustained moderate injuries. Crews also discovered that a fire had ignited in the engine compartment area. Firefighters removed the occupant and initiated medical treatment while other crew members extinguished the fire.

Lakeside Fire crews work on the occupant who suffered moderate injuries.

The patient was transported to Sharp Memorial Hospital Trauma Unit in Kearny Mesa by Lakeside firefighter/paramedics. The incident resulted in the closure of Valle Vista Road while CHP investigated the accident and tow crews removed the car.

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

Submitted By: Fire Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District

Community Chipping Day in Eucalyptus Hills

Eucalyptus Hills:  Residents of Lakeside and Eucalyptus Hills were able to dispose of dead and dying vegetation through a free "Chipping Day" hosted by the Fire Safe Council of San Diego County.

Crews from the Urban Corps of San Diego County worked hard to unload brush and vegetation and run them through the chipping machines

The event, funded by the San Diego Regional Disaster Fund, allowed citizens to improve their defensible space and reduce their fire threat by chipping brush and vegetation into mulch. The mulch was then made available for use as water-conserving ground cover. This marks the third time the event has been held in Lakeside and was staffed by volunteers from the Eucalyptus Hills Fire Safe Council.  It is importnat to note that today's event logged 67 truck loads of vegetation - a record for any Resource Conservation District chipping day.  Well done Lakeside residents!

Lakeside Firefighters from the Eucalyptus Hills Fire Station (fs2) assist with directing traffic at the free Community Chipping Day.

On-site chipping service is also available for residents to assist in fuel reduction. This program is currently funded through the end of July. For more information, contact the Fire Safe Council of San Diego County at 619-749-4232 or go to www.firesafesdcounty.org.

The Lakeside Fire Protection District would like to remind residents that the single best thing they can do to protect their homes from wildfire is to create a 100 foot defensible space area. Spring is a great time to clear excess vegetation and create defensible space, before the weather gets too hot and dry.


Story and Photos submitted by Captain Jim Kirkpatrick

Lakeside Fire Crews Search for Downed Aircraft

Eucalyptus Hills: On Monday, December 27th 2010, at 1:32 p.m., the Lakeside Fire District received a call of an aircraft crash in the area of the 10600 block of Oak Creek Drive. The reporting party claimed she saw an aircraft go down in the area with an associated "boom." Three engine companies, a rescue company, an ALS ambulance, and two battalion chiefs were sent on the alarm.

View Lakeside Incidents and Story Map in a larger map

Arriving units could not locate a crash site, so ASTREA (San Diego County Sheriff) was requested to search the area and listen for an ELT signal from the aircraft. During this time, crews received an additional report from a local construction crew that they had seen an aircraft and heard an explosion in the area. Based on that information, E1 (Riverview Station), and E2 (Eucalyptus Hills Station), with Battalion One (Lake Jennings Station) conducted a ground search of the creek beds in the area.

On the arrival of ASTREA, they conducted a search of the area and could not locate a crash site. The control towers at Gillespie Field and Miramar reported no overdue aircarft.

After an extensive search of the area, crews determined that there was no evidence of a plane crash and the search was terminated.

Agencies assisting Lakeside Fire include the Santee Fire Department and the San Diego County Sheriff Department.

Submitted By: Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District

Water Main Break in Eucalyptus Hills

Eucalyptus Hills:  On the afternoon of Saturday October 16th, Lakeside Fire Station 2 in Eucalyptus Hills was dispatched to reports of a broken water main at the intersection of Valle Vista Road and Manzanita Road.  E2 found there to be a large volume of water coming out of the ground on the right shoulder of Manzanita Road when they arrived on scene.


View Lakeside Incidents and Story Map in a larger map

 The water turned Manzanita Road into a river for about 1/2 of an hour while the water was being shut off.  Water always seeks the path of least resistance, in this case that path was into the yard of a Lakeside resident and down Manzanita Road across Pinehurst Drive out into the drainages that find their way down to Lakeside Avenue and finally into the San Diego River.   The path is partially illustrated by the blue line on the map.

 The roadway showed the signs of damage quickly from the stream of water, as can be seen by the pictures.  It is an important point to emphasize to never drive your vehicle into running water.  Moving water can quickly wash away even paved roadways.

What looks like a road with some water running over it can have a very large carved out areas deep enough to incapacitate a vehicle.

The roadway was closed by county roads and the Water Main is being repaired by Lakeside Water district.


Pictures and Story submitted by: Firefighter / Paramedic Bernie Molloy

The Eucalyptus Hills Fire Safe Council holds first "Chipping Day"

The Eucalyptus Hills Fire Safe Council hosted their first 'Chipping Day' this past Saturday (5/8). The local Council (in cooperation with the greater San Diego Fire Safe Council and the Lakeside Fire District) hoped for 20 truckloads during their 'kick off' event. The final count of truckloads when volunteers closed the doors was 63, nearly breaking the record (70) for the busiest (4 hour) chipping day event in San Diego County to date. 

Council volunteers and Lakeside firefighters interacted with the residents waiting in line by distributing defensible space literature and really making the most of the opportunity to pass along important fire safety education. Fire Marshal Greg Schreiner was instrumental in coordinating the Fire Safe Council volunteers and other community members in support of this very successful event.

Submitted By: Fire Chief Andy Parr, Lakeside Fire District
Photography By: Fire Marshal Greg Schreiner, Lakeside Fire District