Lakeside and Santee Firefighter Paramedics - 40 years of Service

Lakeside, CA. -

Just over 40-years ago, eight firefighters from two small fire district's in "East County" began serving as the first paramedics in San Diego County. In July of 1975, the first paramedic advanced life support ambulance in San Diego County began serving the citizens of Santee, Lakeside, and Bostonia from Santee Fire District Station 1 on Cottonwood Avenue (now station 4). The assigned crew consisted of one Santee and one Lakeside firefighter-paramedic.

Back in early 1970s, paramedic service was still a new concept in California. Authorized by the state's 1970 Wedsworth-Townsend Act, paramedic services were being provided by only a few agencies statewide, primarily large fire departments in the greater Los Angeles area. In January of 1972, the capabilities of the (firefighter) paramedic truly entered the public consciousness with the popular television program Emergency!. Up until then, both Lakeside and Santee fire districts were providing transport ambulance service at a basic life support level. In 1974, the fire chiefs of the neighboring districts decided it was time to provide a (much) higher level of emergency medical service.

A public information campaign was launched with Santee Fire Captain Jack Stephenson assigned the daunting task of convincing local citizens of the need for the new life-saving service. Captain Stephenson made over 70 presentations to local community groups over the next months. During that period, federal grant funding was secured to help pay for the training costs. In addition to Capt. Stephenson, seven other firefighters were chosen to attend the rigorous advanced training course. In February of 1975, the eight firefighters started their training at newly-established UCSD EMS Training Office (EMSTO). This would become known as Paramedic Class 1.

Following a parallel course, a group of emergency room nurses at Grossmont Hospital started specialized training to become the first "paramedic" nurses in the county. Known as Mobile Intensive Care Nurses (MICN), these dedicated professionals would staff the first paramedic base station, providing medical direction to field paramedics via the EMS radio. Completing the prehospital care team were the first base hospital physicians at Grossmont hospital, ultimately providing 24-hour, real-time oversight of the paramedics operating in the field.

On March 4, 1975, voters in Lakeside, Santee, and Bostonia approved a special tax levy to create the CSA-69 Heartland Paramedic District with a 79% "yes" margin. This established a stable funding source for the new paramedic program.

With the voters approving the new paramedic district, the eight firefighters finished up their training. While the didactic (classroom) and clinical (hospital) instruction took place locally, the mandated field internship portion of the course had to be completed with certified paramedics. Since there were no paramedics in San Diego County, Class 1 trainees headed to Long Beach Fire Department to complete their field internships.

In July, 1975, after months of rigorous training, UCSD EMSTO Paramedic Class 1 graduated. That month, the first Mobile Intensive Care Paramedics (MICP) in San Diego County began serving the citizens of East County.

Lakeside and Santee firefighter-paramedics have been providing advance life support services ever since. The paramedic district currently provides service from four paramedic transport ambulances, two in Lakeside (M2, M3) and two in Santee (M4, M5). Both agencies also have robust paramedic engine programs quickly delivering a firefighter-paramedic to every call for service on board fire engines and truck companies prior to ambulance arrival. Additionally, the dual-role capability of the firefighter-paramedic provides increased daily firefighter staffing for both the City of Santee Fire Department and the Lakeside Fire Protection District.

EMSTO Class 1 Firefighter Trainees. (courtesy Life News)

Grossmont Hospital's First MICNs.

Post by: Captain-Paramedic Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District

Firefighters Rescue Man Injured in Flood Channel

Lakeside:

Early on the morning on May 23, 2014 Lakeside Engine 1 and Medic 2 were called for reports of a person that had fallen into the flood channel under Hwy 67.

View 2014 Incident Map in a larger map

Engine 1 arrived, and with the assistance of the SDSO, were able to locate the patient. The patient was a male that was injured in the bottom of the flood channel that runs under Hwy 67.  The patient had fallen approximately 20 + feet to the concrete bottom of the flood channel.

The patient fell onto the concrete from the edged of the channel.

To access the patient crews had to place a ladder into the channel and descend it.  Once the patient was accessed it was clear that he would need to be placed in spinal precautions because of his injuries.  The spinal precautions combined with the high vertical walls of the channel meant the patient would have to be hoisted out of the flood channel in a stokes basket on a backboard.   Engine 1 requested that Rescue 3 respond to the scene to bring the necessary equipment to move the patient.

R3 crews work to set up a mechanical lifting system

The lifting system requires a long section of rope and a great deal of specialized hardware

Rescue 3 arrived at the scene and assisted the crews on scene with setting up a ladder-slide and a rope lifting system that would provide a mechanical advantage to pull the patient out of the flood channel.  Once the patient was lifted out of the channel he was transported to the hospital by M2.

Once the patient was up he was moved to a gurney for transport to the medic unit 

This call was an example of one of the technical rescue situations Lakeside firefighters are capable of carrying out.  It is a low-frequency high-risk situation that requires regular training and review to stay proficient with these skills.  This rescue was carried out without any issues and the patient was successfully removed from the channel and transported to the hospital.

R3 and E1 crews put the rescue equipment back onto Rescue 3 after the call

Photos and story by Captain Bernie Molloy

Lakeside Firefighters Respond To A Mobile Home Fire

Riverview-

At 5:17 p.m. on Saturday, November 24, 2012, the Heartland Communications Center received an urgent 911 call reporting a mobile home on fire at Gray Buckner's Mobile Home Lodge located at 12030 Woodside Ave. A first alarm structure response was dispatched within one minute.

Flames spread quickly throughout the rear of the mobile home.

The first fire unit was on scene less than four minutes later. Lakeside Engine 1 (Riverview fire station) arrived to report a working fire with flames and heavy smoke coming from the rear of a single wide mobile home. As additional units arrived minutes later, an aggressive attack was made on the fire. Lakeside Battalion 4106 (Kirkpatrick) took over Incident Command(IC) from Engine 1.

Interior fire attack was initiated through the front door.

 Knock down of the flames was reported by the interior fire crews at 5:39 p.m. The blaze was confined to one mobile home with no damaged to neighboring homes. Fire units assisting in the firefight included Engine 1, Engine 2, Medic 2, Engine 3, Division 4106, Support 4140 and 4141 (Lakeside); Engine 4, Truck 4, and Rescue 5 (Santee).

Overhaul plans being discussed by the IC.

Incident support was provided by the Lakeside Logistics Volunteer Group(LVG). A total of 25 fire personnel were utilized on the incident. The Red Cross provided assistance for two adults who were displaced by the fire which was determined to be caused by faulty wiring.

Photos by: Steve Russo and Robert Williams, Lakeside Fire District

Post by: Chuck Palmore, Lakeside Fire District

Lakeside Firefighters Assist Santee with House Fire

 

Fire attack operations get underway.

Truck 4 crew performing roof operations.

 Santee, CA-

 Just before noon on Monday, September 17, 2012, Lakeside engine 1 and Medic 2 were dispatched to to a residential structure fire in Santee.  Division Chief 4106 from Lakeside Fire District was first on scene reporting a well-involved garage fire.  Santee units arrived on scene and coordinated ventilation and fire attack to quickly knock-down the fire while Lakeside and El Cajon units arrived to assist in stopping the fire from spreading through the attic of the home.  One civilian was assessed for injuries and released at scene.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Units on scene from Santee were engine 4, truck 4, rescue 5, and battalion 2.  Units from Lakeside were engine 1, medic 2, and engine 9 from El Cajon.

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

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

Car Accident Takes Down Powerlines

Lakeside, CA -

On January 13, 2012, a vehicle traveling eastbound on Woodside Ave, just west of the Lakeside Middle School was involved in a collision with a power pole.  The vehicle ended up with a power pole on its roof and electrical lines down on the street.

The power pole was on top of the vehicle when it came to rest.

When Lakeside Engine 1, from the Riverview Station, arrived with Medic 2, a safety perimeter was established due to the numerous electrical and utility lines on the street.  In total there were one power line and 3 utility poles that were broken when the pole was struck by the vehicle.  The occupant of the vehicle, who escaped without injury, had jumped out of the vehicle after it had stopped to make sure nobody had been injured with the falling of the lines all around his car.

The transformers ended up in a ditch behind the vehicle

The nearby school had just let out and most of the children had already dispersed which was very fortunate. There were no injuries involved in this accident.  It is important to realize that when an accident involves energized lines it is not safe for the public to approach the vehicle.  As can be seen in the photos above, the lines were directly on and around the vehicle.  The pole that was damaged in this incident was a terminal pole and the lines to it had been severed which resulted in them having no charge.  This was not immediately known when crews arrived on scene.  If these lines had remained charged this situation  could have had a much worse outcome.

The poles on the other side of the street were damages as well

CHP was able to isolate the accident scene and closed Woodside Ave between Marilla Dr. and Riverview Dr.  SDG&E line crews are on scene tonight to replace the damaged poles and lines.  A full repair is expected within the next few days.

View Incident Map 2012 in a larger map


Story and Photos by:  Captain Bernie Molloy