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

Multi Company Vehicle Extrication Drill

Lakeside Rescue 3, Medic 3 and Engine 26s along with Cal Fire Engine 3382 got some "hands on" training today to hone their skills in the art of vehicle extrication techniques. The drill was made possible with the donation of damaged vehicles by Vince Clark at RoadOne Towing in district 26. The crews were invited to the tow yard at 15289 Olde Hwy 80 and provided with several vehicles to dismantle.

Rescue 3 Captain Mark Grow explains the specialized equipment

This type of training is invaluable because it allows the crews to explore new techniques as well as share the tried and true methods in a non-emergency atmosphere where they are able to perfect the skills necessary for a successful patient rescue. Rescue 3 carries a full compliment of vehicle rescue gear including Holmatro hydraulic cutters, spreaders and rams designed specifically to remove a twisted vehicle from around a trapped victim piece by piece.

Lakeside "Rescue Guru" Todd Welch provides some tips to Cal Fire personnel

Today's drill was attended by many of the apparatus that would typically respond to a vehicle rescue incident in districts 26 and 3 along the Interstate 8 corridor and surface streets. The response includes automatic aid units from the neighboring agencies of Cal Fire, El Cajon and Alpine. Multi-agency drills such as this provide a chance for all personnel involved to practice with the specialize equipment on Rescue 3.

 Vehicle properly stabilized for extrication work

Firefighter Chris Williams and Engineer Steve Schleif execute a dash roll on a side positioned vehicle

Submitted By: Captain Chuck Palmore, Lakeside Fire District