Lakeside Fire Assists Alpine at Fatality Traffic Collision

Alpine, CA - 

Lakeside Firefighters responded to assist Alpine Fire with a freeway traffic collision with a trapped driver on westbound I-8 in Alpine on Monday, February 8, 2016. B-division crews from Lakeside's Blossom Valley (fs26) and Lake Jennings (fs3) stations were alerted to respond at 5:21 a.m.

Sadly, the incident became a body recovery as it was confirmed early-on that the trapped driver had sustained fatal injuries. The subsequent extrication was described as "very complicated" by Lakeside Fire Captain Ian Lowe, who responded with Lakeside Rescue 3. It took firefighters around 40-minutes to complete the operation.


This incident exemplifies the close working relationship that east county firefighters rely on virtually every day. Other responding resources included Chief 4701 (Paskle), E17 (Alpine), and Medic 7296.

The van sustained major damage.

E17 and R3 spot to protect the scene.

Post by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District
Photos by: Firefighter-Paramedic Colby Ross, Alpine Fire District

Rollover Traffic Collision Sends Driver To Trauma Center in Helicopter

Lakeside: 

On Saturday February 7, 2015 Lakeside Firefighters were called to Lake Jennings Park Rd. and Interstate 8 for reports of a rollover traffic collision.  Lakeside Rescue 3 was first on scene and found that a pickup truck had rolled over and the driver had been ejected from the vehicle.  Rescue 3 crews quickly began treating the critically injured patient and determined that it would be in the best interest of the patient to be flown via Mercy Air to a trauma center.

Mercy Air Taking off of the Trauma Center with the Patient on Board

Alpine Engine 17 went to ensure there was a safe landing zone for Mercy Air 6 and Lakeside Engine 26 assisted Rescue 3 on scene with patient care.  When Santee Medic 5 arrived at the scene the patient was quickly loaded and transported to the landing zone to rendezvous with Mercy Air 6.

Crews Work on the Critically Injured Patient

Engine 17 found an appropriate landing zone in the parking lot at Lake Jennings Park.  Without specific helipads in the district it is necessary that we use large open safe places to land rescue helicopters.  There are many suitable areas, but if a single car is parked in the wrong place it can completely exclude a pre-designated landing zone.  Fortunately, on this particular Saturday, there was plenty of room at the closest possible landing zone.

Mercy Air on the Ground

The patient was transferred to the helicopter and flown to a local trauma center.  California Highway Patrol was on scene and is investigating the cause of the accident.

Story and Photos by Acting Division Chief Bernie Molloy

Lakeside Rescue Vehicle Accident

Lakeside, CA -

Late on the evening of December 20, 2014, Lakeside firefighters were dispatched to a vehicle accident with entrapment on Lake Jennings Park Rd near Jack Oak Rd.  Rescue 3 from the nearby Lake Jennings Fire Station was the first unit on scene reporting a full-size pickup on its side with one person trapped. Additional fire units arrived and personnel assisted with vehicle stabilization and patient extrication. The Rescue 3 crew performed a roof flap evolution utilizing hydraulic cutting and spreading tools. Once extricated, Santee Medic 4 transported the patient to a local hospital. The CHP is investigating the accident.

Units at scene were Rescue 3, Engine 2, and Division Chief 4106 (Lakeside) and Medic 4 (Santee). Also assisting were San Diego Sheriff and CHP.

Pictures submitted by: Captain John Hisaw
Story By: Engineer Matt Buzzell

Stabilization struts and roof flap were utilized.

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

Firefighters Rescue Injured Horseback Rider from River Bottom

El Monte Valley:

Firefighters from Lakeside were called Thursday April 10th, 2014 to assists a horseback rider who had been thrown from their horse.  The rider had reportedly been injured on the trail in the river bottom that runs through the El Monte Valley but the exact location was not known.  The San Diego Sheriff's Department assisted the fire department in trying to find the downed rider.  After a short time, the rider was located on the trail.

View 2014 Incident Map in a larger map


Crews from Lakeside Engine 2 and Medic 3 hiked into the scene and began rapid treatment of the patient.  Rescue 3 arrived just behind the other units to assist with extricating the patient off of the trail.  The Patient was carried out in full spinal precautions to M3.   Once in the ambulance the patient was transported to a local trauma center.

Firefighters from E2, M3, and Rescue 3 carry the injured rider out of the river bottom

The injured rider is loaded into M3 for transport to the trauma center

Photos by Captain Mark Grow
Story by Captain Bernie Molloy

Lakeside Fire Participates in Multi-Agency Training

Interstate 8 View Point-

The Scenario: A vehicle has left the freeway and plummeted 200 feet into a canyon. The occupant has a broken leg and requires immediate attention from medical personnel.

Crews stand ready to pull the crew up from 200 feet below.

That was the scenario presented to crews from Lakeside, Viejas, San Diego County Fire Authority, Alpine, and Sycuan during a training exercise held at the view point on Interstate 8 east of Alpine. These types of operations require careful attention to detail as crew safety is dependent on a properly constructed rope system. Should this system have a catastrophic failure the safety of crew members on the rope could be compromised, so we practice.

A crew prepares a victim to be raised up in a basket while medic tend to their injuries.

Crews met during three training exercises to refresh skills that are not commonly used. But just weeks ago crews were called to this very location for a vehicle that had broken through the barrier wall and ended up in the canyon below. A haunting reminder of this incident remains as crews were lowered to an area near the wreckage..

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

Central Zone Assists with Structure Fire in Descanso

Descanso-

On Tuesday, January 7th, 2014 at 2:09 a.m., the Heartland Communications Center received a call to assist the San Diego County Fire Authority with a structure fire in the 25100 block of Manzanita Ln in the Descanso area. Dispatched was Engine 25 from the Viejas Fire Department, and Rescue 3 from the Lakeside Fire Protection District.

Smoke pours from the front of the structure.

Arriving Fire Authority units reported a two story structure with significant involvement in fire. Crews quickly located the occupant and rendered medical assistance. With the arrival of more engine companies crews made an interior attack on the fire and continued to search for other occupants.

Fortunately the sole occupant had exited the structure, along with his dogs. Crews now faced an extended overhaul situation with significant fire loading in the all wood structure. Additional companies were requested  to respond to assist. The occupant was evaluated by AMR medics and transported to a local hospital.

Investigation of the fire will be handled by the San Diego County Fire Authority.

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

 

View 2014 Incident Mapt in a larger map

Morning Rollover Accident on Interstate 8

Lakeside:

Firefighters were called on the morning of Friday May 31, 2013 to reports of a rollover accident on Westbound Interstate 8.  The accident, which involved a white van that had rolled over, was found on the shoulder of the westbound lane just east of Lake Jennings Park Road.

The van came to rest on it's wheels

El Cajon Fire Battalion 3 was the first resource on scene, followed quickly by Lakeside E2.  When arriving at scene it was found that the vehicle had only one occupant.  M3 arrived and assisted E2 with patient care.  The driver of the vehicle sustained moderate injuries and was transported to an area trauma center.  The cause of the accident is under investigation by the CHP.

View 2013 Incident Map in a larger map


Story and Photos by Captain Bernie Molloy

Lakeside Firefighters Assist Alpine on Vehicle Over-The-Side

Alpine, CA -

Lakeside and Alpine firefighters teamed-up to assist the victims of a roll-over vehicle accident on Interstate 8 on Saturday, January 21, 2012. The vehicle skidded off the rain-slickened freeway and rolled-over ending up approximately 100 feet down the embankment. Firefighters from Lakeside's Blossom Valley fire station (fs26) were first on scene reporting four patients still inside the vehicle. An additional engine company, rescue company, and chief officer arrived to assist. Eventually, two paramedic ambulances also were called to the scene. A rope rescue system was put in place to assist in hauling all four of the patients up the hillside. All the patients were transported to area hospitals with what appeared to be minor injuries. Units assisting included E26s, R3, 4103 (Lakeside); E17, B7 (Alpine); M17, M492 (AMR). CHP is investigating the accident.

Firefighter-paramedics assess and package injured victims

A rope system helps bring the victims up the embankment.

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

Truck Driver Narrowly Escapes Serious Injury

On Friday, August 26, 2011, at 2:48 p.m., Lakeside firefighters responded to a report of a large truck accident on Driftwood Creek Rd. near Quail Canyon Rd. in Blossom Valley. Engine 26s (Blossom Valley fire station), Rescue 3 and Medic 3 (Lake Jennings fire station) arrived on scene to find a Waste Management refuse truck in its side fifty-feet down an embankment.

Fortunately the driver was able to jump free of the vehicle after losing control before it plummeted down the hillside. He sustained only minor injuries.

Firefighter Todd Welch stands by with a safety hose line.

After attending to the injured driver, Lakeside firefighters stood by with safety hoselines for the vehicle recovery operation. Two heavy-duty tow trucks from RoadOne towing were required to pull the massive wreck back up to the roadway through the dry vegetation.

This effort required consultation with the supervisor

As you can imagine, it was no simple task to recover the refuse truck. The effort took close to three hours with temperatures hovering just below 100 degrees.

Submitted by: Chuck Palmore, Lakeside Fire Captain
Pictures by: Robert Williams, Lakeside Fire Engineer