Lakeside Firefighters Test Skills above El Capitan Reservoir

Peutz Valley: Lakeside Firefighters returned to a remote location to practice technical rescue scenarios. In this situation the crews from Rescue 3 (Lake Jennings Station) and Engine 26 (Blossom Valley) were given the task of accessing a 200' deep canyon, locating a victim and returning that victim to the roadway attached to lifelines. While normally these situations are pretty routine, in this situation crews were faced with nine foot high vegetation, and large crops of poison oak.

Firefighter Todd Welch checks the "self equalizing" anchoring system.

This rescue operation is commonly know as a "Pick Off". It requires a high degree of coordination between the rescuer in the canyon, and crews above that are responsible for the safe return of both parties. But crews are initially challenged by the lack of large anchoring points (areas we attach ropes to that can withstand the loads placed on them). In this situation crews developed a complex anchoring system that distributes the load to multiple points. The attachment points for this rescue were two mature sumac bushes.

A firefighter is lowered 200' to a victim below. Can you see the firefighter?

Another potential problem facing the firefighters is the possibility the victim may become panicked while being raised back up. Crews learn techniques that limits the potential for trouble in these situations. If not handled correctly the rescue can be defeated by the actions of the victim.

The firefighter and victim (in this case another firefighter) are raised back to the roadway.

Given the rugged terrain surrounding the community of Lakeside, crews practice these skills on a regular basis to stay proficient.

Firefighter-Paramedic Jose Corona and Firefighter-Paramedic Chris Williams are safely returned to the roadway after being drug through sumac and poison oak.

Submitted By: Fire Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District
Photos By: Fire Captain Chuck Palmore and Fire Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District

Multi-Company Drill on the Cliffs

Peutz Valley: If hanging off a 200 foot cliff on a rope, and slowly being lowered into an area full of posion oak is your thing....well you missed out. Lakeside crews travelled to the Peutz Valley area to conduct a multi-company drill in the rugged terrain above El Capitan Reservoir.

Departure point for crew members going over the side.

Crews conducted a drill that involved lowering personnel into an inaccessible area 200’ below the trail network. In technical rescue it’s essential that we get personnel to the victim as quickly as possible. The status of the victim will determine on how we will extricate the victim. It’s important that these injured parties received prompt definitive care at a hospital, so our entire plan revolves around this goal.

Engineer Robert Williams about halfway down the cliff. After this point the "fun" with the poison oak begins. 

Crews are tasked with anchoring to rocks and vegetation in the area, with sufficient strength to conduct rescue operations. This tends to put some out of their comfort zone as firefighters are use to anchoring to 40,000 pound fire trucks. But with load sharing anchoring, and a back-up safety line, these rescue are pretty safe.

If you look carefully you can see the firefighter on the cliff. At this point they are about a quarter of the way down

Submitted By: Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District

High Angle Rescue Training

Firefighters train in high angle techniques.

 Even though there are few high-rise buildings in the East County, the Lakeside Fire Department requires that all firefighters be trained in some basic high angle rescue techniques. Aside from the rare emergency incident involving a tall building rescue in a neighboring agency, the same equipment and techniques are required for any situation where one might come in contact with a sheer vertical drop. A few such possibilities in or close to Lakeside include, bridges, sheer roadside drop-offs, rock climbing sites and power line towers. Since these incidents are so few and far between and the penalty for a mistake is so great, refresher training is a must to remain proficient in this highly technical skill.

Firefighter/Paramedic Danny Leetch looks calm checking his rigging high above the concrete.

 
This recent training was conducted at the Tom Owens Training Facility (TOTF) in El Cajon. The five story training tower is used to provide a realistic atmosphere to practice . One of the key safety features at the tower is a fall arresting net placed below the rope rescue side of the building. Although the net might look soft and safe from the ground, it looses much of it's comforting appeal from over 60' in the air. In fact, in the event of a fall, chances of death are reduced but serious injury is still likely.

Leetch evaluates his incapacitated victim under the watchful eye of Captain Beto Lawler. 

This drill was conducted to simulate a high angle rescue where an individual has become incapacitated or had an equipment failure requiring a rescuer to be lowered down to his position for assistance. Once in place, the rescuer is required to evaluate and secure the individual and then transfer him onto his own rescue rope system and both are lowered to safety. There are many steps, people and equipment involved in this process which needs to be coordinated and accomplished in a very specific order to result in a safe and successful outcome.

Secured to his rescue system, Leetch removes Captain Chuck Palmore from the damaged line.

Submitted by: Chuck Palmore, Lakeside Fire Captain

Photos by: Battalion Chief Brent Larkin and Engineer Rich Smith

Training at the Blossom Gliderport

Blossom Valley: High in the hills above El Monte Valley lies one of the most popular spots in Southern California for para-glider and hang glider pilots to test their skills in the upslope winds that funnel up from the canyon below. This area has been a mecca for these enthusiasts since the early 80's, and its popularity grows each year. On a clear summer evening it's not uncommon to see multiple gliders in the area.

The view of the El Monte Valley from the Blossom Gliderport.

But with any sport that has a degree of risk accidents do happen. Over the years the Lakeside Fire District has been called to assist injured pilots along the range of hills where they circle. Unfortunately the area is extremely rugged and in many spots it requires the use of ropes and hardware to retrieve the injured.

Fire Engineer Rich Smith reviews using hardware on technical rope systems while Firefighter-Paramedic Jamie Hazlewood works on a lowering system.

Recently the crew from Rescue 3 and Medic 3 (Lake Jennings Station) traveled to the area to practice setting up rope systems and evaluating the different slope areas where potential incidents occur. The most important aspect of these rescues is getting a paramedic to the injured party so decisions can be made based on their injuries. As most of these injuries require evaluation at a "Trauma Center" we work to maintain the "Golden Hour" treatment guidelines that suggest from the time of injury till arrival at a trauma center should not exceed an hour. But with any rescue that occurs in these areas, time is not always on our side. Given the vast area in the Eastern El Monte Valley, simply locating the downed pilot can be time consuming.

Crews review the proper "lashing" technique for removing patients. Lashing is the method we use to secure a patient into the stokes basket.

Lakeside Firefighter-Paramedic Jose Corona and Josh Raczka being lowered into the canyon on a 500' rope. They will start treatment on the patient once they access their location and radio up information that will determine how they will be extricated from the canyon.

Once the injuries are evaluated specific choices can be made on how best to remove the victim. Those choices can include a simple "hike out", all the way up to a hoist removal by helicopter.

Submitted By: Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District

Rescue off El Capitan Mountain

El Monte Valley: On Saturday, May 1st, 2010 at 2:06 PM, the Heartland Communications Center received a call from a hiker on El Capitan Mountain requesting medical assistance for another hiker that had fallen and possibly fractured an ankle. An engine company, a rescue company, an ALS ambulance, and Battalion Chief were dispatched to the area. Arriving units established a command post at El Monte Park, and Battalion Chief Ron Laff assumed command of the incident.

SDFD Copter II arrives at the mountain and starts their search.

 Through cell phone communications the crews were able to establish that the victim was located halfway up the mountain in a rugged area popular with hikers. It was determined that it would take ground forces up to two hours to initiate a ground rescue, so a request was made for a helicopter with hoist capabilities.

San Diego Fire Department Copter II was dispatched from Montgomery Field and made contact with the command post. Initially the copter was having difficulty locating the victim, fortunately rescuers were able to maintain cell phone contact. Hikers were able to "talk-in" the rescuers who quickly located the patient. A paramedic was lowered into the scene where the patient was given initial care, then hoisted back up to Copter II.

SDFD Copter II rendezvous with Lakeside Fire units at El Monte Park

 The patient was flown to El Monte Park where he received additional care and was transported to Grossmont Hospital via Medic 3 (Lake Jennings Station).

To see some outstanding photographs taken by local photographer Ron Cook click HERE

Photos By: Fire Chief Andy Parr, Lakeside Fire District
Submitted By: Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire District

Training on the Trails

Lakeside: The Lakeside Fire District has a web of trails and recreational activity areas throughout most of the community. Used by everyone from horse enthusiasts, to hang glider pilots, these back country areas can pose a challenge for rescue crews when accidents happen. To maintain our preparedness for these types of incidents firefighters constantly have to practice skills used to extricate victims from an array of difficult terrains that we might encounter.

Firefighter-Paramedic Jose Corona reviews system hardware with other crew members.

Captain Chuck Palmore prepares a system used to lower rescuers down to a victim.

No two calls are ever the same when dealing with injured parties in the wilderness setting. Often the hardest phase of the rescue is simply locating the victim, whom is often confused as to their location, or they are simply overdue and we're looking in a massive area for the victim.

The the past Lakeside Firefighters have responded to stranded climbers in the El Capitan and El Monte Park areas, downed hang glider pilots in the Blossom Valley area, and multiple riders down from off-road and horse related incidents.  

Once located crews need to quickly access the victim and evaluate their injuries. Crews practice using anchoring systems out of objects commonly found in these very rural areas. The trick is to securely anchor the system and get a paramedic into the victim within minutes. Once the medic is with the patient definitive care can be administered while the rescue crew works on a method to extricate the victim.

Lakeside Firefighters Chris Williams, Steve Schleif, and Todd Welch prepare to be lowered into a remote location.

Lakeside Firefighters Danny Leetch, Chuck Palmore, and Steve Thompson being lowered into a ravine off Furnace Creek Rd

Typically firefighters are introduced to basic rope rescue techniques during their academy, but the techniques required to remove victims in wildness settings requires a whole new "skill set." Lakeside Fire requires all employees to attain these skills during their first three years of employment.

There are some specific things you can do to help us locate you in the back country.

•      Let People Know Where you are Going: Let family members, friends, or co-workers know your plans. This should include:

• Where you are departing from.
• Where are you going.
• When will you be back.
  

•     Carry a Cell Phone: Unfortunately some of the more rural areas are out of the coverage area, but it's a good idea to carry a phone to make emergency calls. The other problem with cell phones is people lose orientation, and have difficulty describing their location to a 911 operator. Try to be aware of the areas you are in so that you can give specific information.

•     Wear Clothing that is Easy to Spot: Most searches start with an aerial search of the area. Wear clothing that can been seen against the background of earth colors. 

•     Be Prepared for Changing Conditions: Take warm clothing and water in case you become stranded for an extended period of time.

Lakeside Fire Engineer Steve Schleif practices using "brush" as part of a complex anchoring system where the load is shared by many objects. Sometimes this is all we have!

Submitted By: Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire Protection District